Two- Versus Four-Times Weekly Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Radiation-Induced Xerostomia: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT: Background: Xerostomia occurs in the majority of patients undergoing chemoradiation therapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). Acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) treatment has been studied as an encouraging modality to improve salivary function and related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to compare ALTENS treatment by using a four-times weekly schedule for 6 weeks versus a twice-weekly schedule for 12 weeks with a validated xerostomia scale at 15 months from the start of ALTENS treatment. Materials and Methods: This single-center randomized study was conducted in 30 patients treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for HNC between 2014 and 2017, who had at least grade 1 or 2 symptomatic dry mouth (xerostomia)

SUBMITTER: Iovoli AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8255307 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature