Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the volume changes in the masticatory muscles of nasopharyngeal cancer patients who have undergone radiotherapy, using magnetic resonance imaging. Study Design Thirty-five patients with pre-radiotherapy and 1- and 2-year post-radiotherapy MRI records were included in the study. Volume changes of the masseter, lateral pterygoid and medial pterygoid muscles were examined in three different periods and the relationship between these changes and the RT doses received was evaluated. Results The pre-RT right and left masseter volumes were significantly higher than those in the post-RT 1st and 2nd years. No significant volume changes occurred in the lateral pterygoid muscles. The pre-RT medial pterygoid volumes were also significantly greater than the post-RT 2nd-year values. Muscle volume variations correlated positively or negatively with certain RT dose parameters. Specifically, the right masseter and medial pterygoid correlated with maximum and V40 doses, while the left medial pterygoid showed associations with both high and low RT doses across time intervals. Conclusions These findings suggest that changes in masticatory muscles may occur in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer following radiotherapy, and these changes could be part of the treatment process. Rehabilitation programs may be recommended to preserve chewing function.