The Role of Ear, Body Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture in Xerostomia of Post Chemoradiation Tongue Cancer Patients
Rahmania Kannesia Dahuri* and Yoshua Viventius
ABSTRACT
Background: Xerostomia is a condition described as a subjective dryness of the mouth. This condition is a common side effect in patients undergoing chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Chemoradiation therapy is one of the modalities for cancer therapy. Until now, there is no reliable method to treat xerostomia induced by chemoradiation or commonly known as Radiation Induced Xerostomia (RIX). Therefore, after treatments such as acupuncture are needed.
Case: A 56-year-old woman with chief complaint of dry mouth after chemoradiation. Patient was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue SCC and xerostomia. The patient underwent acupuncture therapy with body acupuncture at points LI2, LI4, CV24, ST6, PC6 bilaterally. Ear acupuncture MA-TF1 Shenmen, MA-AT Parotid Gland, MA-HX1 Point zero, MA-TG1 Laryngeal pharynx bilateral. Electroacupuncture ST5 to ST7, ST36 to SP6 bilateral.
Results: Since the first acupuncture therapy until the 12th acupuncture therapy, the patients experienced an improvement in weight gain. The patient also felt an increase in appetite since the acupuncture therapy. The XI score was improving after 12th treatment (42 vs 13). Based on the WHOQOL-BREF score, there were improvements in physical, psychological, social relationships, and environmental aspects in patients after acupuncture (56 vs 88, 38 vs. 69, 75 vs 81, 63 vs 81)
Conclusion: Acupuncture improving production of saliva and quality of life in tongue cancer patient with xerostomia of post chemoradiation
