Salivary flow and its relation with oral symptoms in terminally ill patients

摘要: BACKGROUND Patients with terminal malignant disease commonly report hyposalivation or xerostomia. This leads to “dry mouth,” fungal infection, and mucosal abnormalities. To the authors' knowledge oral symptomatology findings have not been correlated previously accurate salivary flow measurements. METHODS Measurement of stimulated parotid rate clinical recording symptoms within 24 hours from time hospital admission were obtained in 48 terminally ill cancer patients. Subjective reporting by patients, rate, dental status, presence candidiasis, angular cheilitis, dryness floor mouth obtained. RESULTS A diagnosis candidiasis was made tentatively 94% 50% patients found cheilitis. Thirty-one 45 evaluable (68%) reported a sensation dryness. Sixteen (33%) had no saliva at mouth. Analysis individual rates stratified into 3 levels secretion: 0, < 0.2, ≥ 0.2 mL/minute. Symptoms correlate rates. CONCLUSIONS In current study, be most severe xerostomia followed those hyposalivation. Treatment should directed individually each group using either substitutes stimulants. The incidence pathologic may higher than formerly recognized. Cancer 2000;88:984–7. © 2000 American Society.