Oropharyngeal colonisation with fungi and gram-negative rods in patients treated with radiotherapy of the head and neck.
Twenty-five patients treated for malignant conditions of the head and neck were investigated for the development of oral radiation mucositis as well as oropharyngeal colonisation with fungi and Gram-negative bacilli. The colonisation rate of the patients increased from 20% to 80% during therapy. The patients were colonised mainly with fungi, but also to a lesser extent with Gram-negative bacilli. During radiotherapy free volatile fatty acids in saliva were determined by direct gas-liquid chromatography. The amounts of acetic, butyric and propionic acid decreased during radiotherapy and remained at low levels 6 months after therapy. Radiation induced mucositis was observed in 28% of the patients after 1 week of irradiation. After 3 weeks of therapy all patients showed varying grades of mucositis. In seven of the 19 survivors (36%) erythema was still present 6 months after radiotherapy.
Department of Oral Surgery, University of Turku, Finland.
T A
TA
Makkonen
L
L
Borthen
A
A
Heimdahl
H
H
Joensuu
O P
OP
Lehtonen
C E
CE
Nord
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile