Table 2.

Clinical grading of xerostomia, based on the common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE)

Grading	Clinical implication	Unstimulated saliva flow
Grade 1 (mild)	Symptomatic, without significant dietary changes	≥ 0.2 mL/min
Grade 2 (moderate)	Symptomatic, with significant dietary changes (Large intake of water or use of other lubricants, or diet limited to soft food)	0.1–0.2 mL/min
Grade 3 (severe)	Symptomatic, with oral feeding inability—requiring enteral or parenteral nutrition	< 0.1 mL/min
Grade 4 (life-threatening)	–	–
Grade 5 (fatal)	–	–