Oral mucositis: a challenging complication of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiochemotherapy: part 1, pathogenesis and prophylaxis of mucositis.
BACKGROUND
Oral mucositis is a common sequel of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiochemotherapy in patients with cancer or patients requiring hemopoietic stem cell transplants. Mucositis has a direct and significant impact on the duration of disease remission and cure rates, because it is a cancer treatment-limiting toxicity. Mucositis also affects survival because of the risk of infection and has a significant impact on the quality of life and cost of care.


METHODS
This article reviews publications on the etiopathogenesis and prevention of oral mucositis accessible from a MEDLINE search using as key words, mucositis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hemopoietic stem cell transplant, and oral.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the current available products, ice chips and benzydamine have the strongest scientific evidence of support for prophylaxis of mucositis.
Scully
Crispian
C
Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Oral Health, Disability and Cultures, University College London, University of London, London WC1X 8LD United Kingdom. c.scully@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
Epstein
Joel
J
Sonis
Stephen
S
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents