Sensitivity of Salivary Glands to Radiation: from Animal Models to Therapies

Overview

Journal J Dent Res

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2009 Sep 29

PMID 19783796

Citations 116

Authors

O Grundmann

G C Mitchell

K H Limesand

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer causes significant secondary side-effects in normal salivary glands, resulting in diminished quality of life for these individuals. Salivary glands are exquisitely sensitive to radiation and display acute and chronic responses to radiotherapy. This review will discuss clinical implications of radiosensitivity in normal salivary glands, compare animal models used to investigate radiation-induced salivary gland damage, address therapeutic advances, and project future directions in the field.

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