ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S1611

Clinical – Mixed sites & palliation

ESTRO 2025

Results: Five out of six patients experienced significant relief from sialorrhea following radiotherapy. One patient achieved a 60% reduction in salivation after the first fraction and near-complete resolution after the second, with a significant improvement in nighttime comfort and caregiver burden. Three patients reported at least a 50% reduction in symptoms after RT, one of whom received only one fraction, with sustained improvement three months later in all three cases. One patient noted an 80% reduction in salivation after one fraction but experienced mild local side effects. One patient showed no improvement despite completing treatment. Mild toxicities, such as transient pain (4 cases), erythema and dryness (1 case), and mild edema (2 cases), were reported. No severe adverse events or exacerbation of dysphagia were observed. Conclusion: Radiotherapy targeting salivary glands offers a safe and effective option for managing sialorrhea in ALS patients with refractory symptoms. The presented simple technique is also useful for patients with very poor performance status, with minimal side effects and improved quality of life for most patients and their families. Further research is required to refine fractionation and dosing protocols for consistent efficacy.

Keywords: ALS, orthovoltage, sialorrhea