Figure 3.

Volume changes of the salivary glands during treatment and the relationship of volume change with the cumulative dose for the respective gland. MRI2 acquired immediately before delivery of the first fraction was set as reference. (A) Volume changes of the parotid glands. (B) Volume changes of the submandibular glands. (C) Volume change of the parotids vs. the cumulative dose for the parotids at the time of volume measurement. (D) Volume change of the submandibular glands vs. the cumulative dose for the submandibular glands at the time of volume measurement. In case of a symmetric bilateral treatment of a centrally located tumor without clear lateralization, the term “central” was used to indicate the location of the salivary glands. NS: not significant, *** p < 0.001.