Significance of functional MR images in prognostic evaluation for treatments as treatment of xerostomia

本研究的目的是评估功能磁共振成像在口干症治疗预后评估中的临床意义。作为方法，使用功能性MR图像对口干症的治疗进行形态学检查和功能参数评价。将冲洗治疗后唾液分泌和口干感改善的患者治疗前基于功能性MR图像的数据与未改善的患者的数据进行比较。结果显示，治疗后好转组患者的一项指标明显高于未好转组患者。其中一个参数与治疗后口干感的改善和唾液流速的改善高度相关。此外，在治疗后唾液流速改善的患者中，治疗前的一个参数超过标准数。目前的研究表明，功能磁共振成像可能是有用的治疗口干症的预后评估。

The purpose of the present study was evaluating the clinical significance of functional MR images in prognostic evaluation for treatments of xerostomia. As methods, morphological findings and functional parameters were evaluated using functional MR images for treatments of xerostomia. The data based on functional MR images before treatments in patients with improvements of saliva secretion and the sensation of dry mouth after irrigation treatment were compared with data in patients without improvement. As the results, one prameter in the group of patients with improvement after treatment was significantly higher than that in the group of patients without improvement. High correlations were found between one parameter and improvement on the dry mouth sensation after treatment and improvement of salivary flow rate. Moreover, in patients with improvement of saliva flow rate following the treatments, one parameter before treatments was over criteria number. The present study suggests that functional MR images might be useful for the prognostic evaluation of treatments of xerostomia.