Dosimetric investigation of radiation-induced trigeminal nerve toxicity in parotid tumor patients.

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe the association between trigeminal nerve (TN) dose and toxicity and determine a threshold value that leads to TN toxicity in patients with parotid tumors treated with adjuvant conventional fractionated radiation therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eighteen patients who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) between 2013 and 2018 were included in this retrospective study. TN and its branches were outlined subsequently on the planning CT scans. The doses received by TN were obtained based on the dose-volume histogram. The dose and toxicity relationship was investigated over the total prescribed dose. RT-related toxicity was graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V4.0 (CTCAEv4.0).

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 29.5 months. After RT, 61% of patients had Grade I-II late TN toxicity divided into Grade I in 4 (22%) and Grade II in 7 (39%) patients. TN injury symptoms were as follows: loss of sensation in the chin area in 3, difficulty in jaw movements in 3, and paresthesia in 5 patients. The total RT dose (p = 0.001), Dmax (p = 0.001), PTV-TN Dmax (p = 0.001), D1cc (p = 0.004), D0.5cc (p = 0.001), and D0.1cc (p = 0.01) had a significant effect on TN toxicity. Cut-off values leading to toxicity were determined as 66, 65.5, 65.25, 63.6, and 62.7 Gy for Dmax, PTV-TN Dmax, D0.1cc, D 0.5cc, and D1cc, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation-induced TN injury in head and neck cancer patients may further be investigated in clinically prospective trials by virtue of high toxicity rates with current RT doses in our retrospectively designed dosimetric study in parotid tumors.