An interim analysis of acute treatment adverse events and patient reported quality of life for functional imaging guided salivary gland sparing radiation therapy using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
9 affiliations
- 1Adem Crosby Centre - Radiation Oncology, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, QLD, Australia.
- 2Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia.
- 3Radiation Oncology Princess Alexandra Hospital Raymond Terrace, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- 4Faculty of Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- 5Department of Medical Imaging, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- 6School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- 7Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF) Statistics, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- 8Ear Nose Throat Senior Medical Department, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, QLD, Australia.
- 9School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Birtinya, QLD, Australia.
Abstract
Background and purpose
Evolving evidence suggests that regional sparing of the parotid gland during radiation therapy could reduce radiation-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer. This interim analysis investigates the functional relationship between the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) derived parotid gland biological at-risk volume (BRV) dose and acute adverse events, including patient-reported quality of life (QoL).Materials and methods
Twenty-four head and neck cancer patients underwent MRI-simulation to delineate parotid gland BRVs using DW-MRI derived apparent diffusion coefficient measurements. Dose was optimised, sparing the parotid gland BRV. Clinician-reported acute adverse events (xerostomia, dysphagia, oral pain) were recorded and patient-reported QoL was assessed using University of Washington QoL Questionnaire v4.1 with Radiation Therapy Oncology Group modification. Adverse events were quantified using area under the curve and time to side effect peaks were calculated and analysed.Results
A moderate positive correlation trend was observed between contralateral BRV mean dose and xerostomia area under the curve, although this did not reach statistical significance (r = 0.34, p = 0.13). There was a strong relationship between the contralateral BRV sector and days to peak dysphagia (r = 0.56, p = 0.005). Low- and high-dose grouped analysis revealed a trend toward significance for time to peak xerostomia (p = 0.059). There were no significant associations with the ipsilateral parotid gland BRVs.Conclusion
Findings suggest a potential functional-dose relationship between the contralateral BRV mean dose and acute xerostomia. Ongoing follow-up will determine whether the suggestive trends observed in the acute phase strengthen with long-term recovery time.
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BibTeX
@article{cahill2026interim,
title = {{An interim analysis of acute treatment adverse events and patient reported quality of life for functional imaging guided salivary gland sparing radiation therapy using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.}},
author = {Katelyn Cahill and Catriona Hargrave and Kane Miller and Alexandria Leppien and Claudia Chapple and Jasmine Meaghan and Michelle Phan and Mark Denham and Patrick O'Connor and Alan Ho and David Hogan and Joanne Castelli and Zack Y Shan and Myo Min},
journal = {Physics and imaging in radiation oncology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.phro.2026.101095},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898154},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An interim analysis of acute treatment adverse events and patient reported quality of life for functional imaging guided salivary gland sparing radiation therapy using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
AU - Katelyn Cahill
AU - Catriona Hargrave
AU - Kane Miller
AU - Alexandria Leppien
AU - Claudia Chapple
AU - Jasmine Meaghan
AU - Michelle Phan
AU - Mark Denham
AU - Patrick O'Connor
AU - Alan Ho
AU - David Hogan
AU - Joanne Castelli
AU - Zack Y Shan
AU - Myo Min
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Physics and imaging in radiation oncology
DO - 10.1016/j.phro.2026.101095
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898154
AB - Background and purpose Evolving evidence suggests that regional sparing of the parotid gland during radiation therapy could reduce radiation-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer. This interim analysis investigates the functional relationship between the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) derived parotid gland biological at-risk volume (BRV) dose and acute adverse events, including patient-reported quality of life (QoL).Materials and methods Twenty-four head and neck cancer patients underwent MRI-simulation to delineate parotid gland BRVs using DW-MRI derived apparent diffusion coefficient measurements. Dose was optimised, sparing the parotid gland BRV. Clinician-reported acute adverse events (xerostomia, dysphagia, oral pain) were recorded and patient-reported QoL was assessed using University of Washington QoL Questionnaire v4.1 with Radiation Therapy Oncology Group modification. Adverse events were quantified using area under the curve and time to side effect peaks were calculated and analysed.Results A moderate positive correlation trend was observed between contralateral BRV mean dose and xerostomia area under the curve, although this did not reach statistical significance (r = 0.34, p = 0.13). There was a strong relationship between the contralateral BRV sector and days to peak dysphagia (r = 0.56, p = 0.005). Low- and high-dose grouped analysis revealed a trend toward significance for time to peak xerostomia (p = 0.059). There were no significant associations with the ipsilateral parotid gland BRVs.Conclusion Findings suggest a potential functional-dose relationship between the contralateral BRV mean dose and acute xerostomia. Ongoing follow-up will determine whether the suggestive trends observed in the acute phase strengthen with long-term recovery time.
SN - 2405-6316
ER -