Oral medicine case book 53: radiation - induced xerostomia

Abstract

A 76-year old male presented at the Oral Medicine Clinic, complaining of a persistent feeling of a dry mouth, subsequent to having undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 18 months previously. Other than the cancer, he had no systemic problems of note and was otherwise in good physical health. Upon further questioning, the patient reported that the dry mouth condition was affecting his quality of life and that he was losing weight due to difficulty in eating. He further emphasised that his mouth felt dry within five minutes of rinsing his mouth with the palliative agents suggested by his dentist and oncologist. The regimen he followed to relieve his symptoms included glycerine BP oil, Candacide© (a nystatin containing product), Biotene© mouth spray and mouthrinse (these products contain lactoperoxidase, glucose oxidase, lysozyme and lactoferrin), Orbit© sugar free gum and an increased frequency of water intake.