Cancer treatment-induced oral mucositis: a critical review

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 225 - 238
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Caballero, A, Torres-Lagares, D, Robles-García, M, Pachón-Ibáñez, J, González-Padilla, D, Gutiérrez-Pérez, J.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Chemoradiotherapy - adverse effects; Chemotherapy; Dentistry; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy; Humans; Medical sciences; Oral cancer; Oral mucositis; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Prevention; Radiation Injuries - etiology; Radiotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stomatitis - etiology; Stomatitis - prevention & control; Stomatitis - therapy; Surgery; Treatment; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Prevention; Chemotherapy; Oral mucositis; Treatment; Oral cancer; Radiotherapy; Mucositis; Stomatology; Oral administration; Review; Malignant tumor; Surgery; Oral cavity disease; Bibliographic review; Cancer
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2011.10.011

Abstract Head and neck cancer represents one of the main oncological problems. Its treatment, radiotherapy and chemotherapy leads to mucositis, and other side effects. The authors reviewed high-quality evidence published over the last 25 years on the treatment of cancer treatment-induced oral mucositis. A Medline search for double blind randomized controlled clinical trials between 1985 and 2010 was carried out. The keywords were oral mucositis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and head and neck. The different therapeutic approaches found for cancer treatment-induced oral mucositis included: intensive oral hygiene care; use of topical antiseptics and antimicrobial agents; use of anti-inflammatory agents; cytokines and growth factors; locally applied non-pharmacological methods; antioxidants; immune modulators; and homoeopathic agents. To date, no intervention has been able to prevent and treat oral mucositis on its own. It is necessary to combine interventions that act on the different phases of mucositis. It is still unclear which strategies reduce oral mucositis, as there is not enough evidence that describes a treatment with a proven efficiency and is superior to the other treatments for this condition.