PENGARUH RADIOTERAPI AREA KEPALA DAN LEHER TERHADAP pH SALIVA

Abstract

Background Radiotherapy is increasingly being used as primary therapy in the management of head and neck cancer. However, radiotherapy also has some side effects to the salivary glands because these glands are in the area of radiation. Previous studies mentioned that the radiotherapy of head and neck area resulted in the salivary gland dysfunction that causes the secretion of saliva reduced so that the concentration of saliva increased and the pH of saliva will be lower. Aim Determine the effect of radiotherapy of head and neck area to the pH of saliva. Methods This study was a quasi-experimental research with pre and post test design. The sample of patients who were registered to get radiotherapy treatment of head and neck area in the department of Radiotherapy Unit Dr. Kariadi Semarang. The data collected was primary data in the form of a ratio scale which was determined from the results of salivary pH measurements in three times, before the patients got radiotherapy, after a total dose of 20 Gy, and after a total dose of 40 Gy. Statistical tests using non-parametric Friedman test was followed by non-parametric Wilcoxon test. Results The mean of pH saliva before got radiotherapy was 7,10±0,422, after a total dose of 20 Gy was 6,69±0,348, and after a total dose of 40 Gy is 6,26±0,299. Statistical results with non-parametric Wilcoxon test showed differences between the salivary pH of each group. Conclusion Radiotherapy of head and neck area affect the pH of saliva. There were significant differences between pH of saliva before radiotherapy with pH of saliva after radiotherapy dose of 20 Gy, pH of saliva before radiotherapy with after radiotherapy dose of 40 Gy, last pH of saliva after radiotherapy dose of 20 Gy with pH of saliva after radiotherapy dose of 40 Gy. Keywords radiotherapy of head and neck area, the pH of saliva