Elucidation of "dry mouth feeling" caused by radiation therapy for oral cancer: Establishment of an objective evaluation method for minor salivary glands.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17209
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Majima Minami 大阪大学, 歯学部附属病院, 医員 (50876638)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔乾燥症 / 小唾液腺 / 口腔癌 / 放射線治療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed an accurate and simple method for measuring minor salivary gland secretion. This measurement method is versatile enough to be applied not only to healthy subjects but also to radiotherapy patients during the development of mucositis during treatment. To evaluate the relationship between minor salivary gland secretion and total salivary volume, we conducted a patient questionnaire survey using the visual analog scale method on the feeling of xerostomia during eating and non-eating in radiotherapy patients. The results suggest that minor salivary gland secretion may be more related to patient-perceived xerostomia than total salivary gland secretion.

Free Research Field

歯科放射線学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

総唾液分泌量の低下よりも、小唾液腺分泌量の低下こそが患者の自覚する口腔乾燥感と強く関連していることがすでに報告されていたが、これまで確立された客観的測定法が存在しなかった。今回開発した測定法は健常者のみならず、放射線治療患者の治療中の粘膜炎発生時にも適用可能な汎用性の高いものであり、加齢性・薬剤性・糖尿病・自律神経障害・シェーグレン症候群に代表される推定800万人の口腔乾燥症患者に適応できる可能性がある。