Identifying dose constraints for the parotid ducts to minimize patient-reported xerostomia: Is conventional mean dose sparing of the parotid glands sufficient?

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify dose constraints for the parotid ducts that limit patient-reported xerostomia and estimate whether these constraints are achieved during conventional parotid gland sparing radiation therapy (PGS-RT).

Methods And Materials: Thirty-eight oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients were treated prospectively on trial with MRI sialography-guided parotid duct sparing radiation therapy (PDS-RT). PDS-RT explicitly minimizes dose to the parotid ducts in addition to PGS-RT.

In vitro Assessment of lesion activity using simultaneous time-resolved reflectance imaging at 1300 and 1950 nm.

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of a time-resolved reflectance imaging system employing a single photodetector to assess the activity of caries lesions that exploits the differential absorption of water at 1300 and 1950 nm. The time-resolved reflectivity of 10 active and 10 arrested lesions on the proximal surfaces and 5 active and 5 arrested lesions on the occlusal surfaces of extracted teeth were monitored simultaneously at 1300 and 1950 nm during forced air drying for 60 s. The presence of a highly mineralized surface zone measured with microcomputed tomography (microCT) was used to indicate lesion activity.

Clinical SWIR and CP-OCT imaging of interproximal lesions.

Background: Enamel is highly transparent at short wavelength infrared imaging (SWIR) wavelengths allowing the detection of dental decay without the need for ionizing radiation. The purpose of this study was to use SWIR imaging methods including cross polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT), occlusal transillumination (SWIR-OT), proximal transillumination (SWIR-PT), and occlusal reflectance (SWIR-R) to image interproximal lesions in vivo and compare the sensitivity with radiography.

Methods: Participants (n = 30) aged 18-80 each with a radiopositive interproximal lesion scheduled for restoration were enrolled in the study.

Special Section Guest Editorial: Short Wave Infrared Techniques and Applications in Biomedical Optics.

The editorial introduces the JBO Special Section on Short Wave Infrared Techniques and Applications in Biomedical Optics.