PMID- 28675770 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20180723 LR - 20181113 IS - 1601-0825 (Electronic) IS - 1354-523X (Print) IS - 1354-523X (Linking) VI - 23 IP - 8 DP - 2017 Nov TI - Oral complications at 6 months after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. PG - 1134-1143 LID - 10.1111/odi.12710 [doi] AB - OBJECTIVE: To examine oral complications 6 months after modern radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS: Prospective multicenter cohort study of patients with HNC receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy or more advanced RT. Stimulated whole salivary flow, maximal mouth opening, oral mucositis, oral pain, oral health-related quality of life (OH-QOL), and oral hygiene practices were measured in 372 subjects pre-RT and 216 subjects at 6 months from the start of RT. RESULTS: Mean stimulated whole salivary flow declined from 1.09 to 0.47 ml/min at 6 months (p < .0001). Mean maximal mouth opening reduced from 45.58 to 42.53 mm at 6 months (p < .0001). 8.1% of subjects had some oral mucositis at 6 months, including 3.8% with oral ulceration. Mean overall pain score was unchanged. OH-QOL was reduced at 6 months, with changes related to dry mouth, sticky saliva, swallowing solid foods, and sense of taste (p