Xerostomia after radiotherapy. Is treatment with a mucin-containing spray more effective?

Introduction. After radiotherapy (XRT) for head and neck tumors, xerostomia is observed as a chronic side effect. We investigated whether the topical use of a mucin-containing spray can help patients to cope with this problem . Patients and methods. A total of 73 patients with xerostomia post XRT recei ved a bottle of the mucin spray (Saliva medac) and a questionnaire, 59 of w hich were compete and returned. Results. Ali patients had received some form of prior treatment, which had been applied 16 times/day on average (median: 15 times/day). The mucin spra y had to be used less frequently, i.e., 11 times/day (median: 5 times/day), (p <0,001,Wilcoxon's rank test). Additionally, they reported being able to sleep significantly better when using the mucin spray (2.9 vs 3.9 in the G erman school grading system: 1=very good, 6=poor; p <0.001,Wilcoxon's rank test). The spray was well accepted by the patients. Conclusions. The spray was useful against xerostomia in irradiated patients .