abstract
- Purpose/objective: Previous groups have shown contralateral submandibular gland (cSMG) sparing to improve xerostomia with safe outcomes, but primarily in early stage disease. Here we present a large cohort of patients with locally advanced HNC that underwent cSMG-sparing radiotherapy, to demonstrate feasibility and safety specifically in locally advanced patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were treated prospectively with cSMG sparing. Only patients that underwent bilateral neck radiotherapy with cSMG doses < 39 Gy were included. Results: We identified 71 patients. Approximately 80% of patients had ≥ N2b disease. The cSMG mean dose was 33 Gy and at a median follow-up of 27.3 months, no patients failed in the contralateral level IB lymph nodes. Conclusions: Xerostomia remains a significant morbidity despite parotid sparing and can be minimized further by cSMG sparing. These data provide important preliminary evidence that cSMG sparing is feasible and may be safe even in locally advanced cancers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company.