Abstract

The effects of irradiation on total protein levels of saliva in patients who were irradiated for head and neck tumors were examined in Ege University Department of Radiation Oncology. A group of 10 patients whose salivary glands were involved in the therapy field was formed. Saliva samples were taken before the therapy, at the and of the therapy, 3 months and 18 months after the therapy, Total Protein levels were determined. Besides this a control group of 10 healthy people was formed and saliva samples were taken with the same method. The total protein levels of saliva taken from the irradiated group in the acute, subacute and late phase were compared with the results of control group. It was found that the protein levels were raised after the therapy, became normal 3 months later and decreased with the dryness of the oral cavity after 18 months.