Oral mucositis in cancer treatment: Natural history, prevention and treatment.
Oral mucositis is a condition that is characterized by ulcerative lesions in the mucosa of patients undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Oral mucositis is currently considered to be the most severe complication of anticancer therapy, affecting 40-80% of patients undergoing chemotherapy and almost all those undergoing radiotherapy of the head and neck. Although they do not prevent lesions from appearing, drugs for the treatment of oral mucositis are required to minimize its clinical aggressiveness and improve the nutritional status, hydration and quality of life of the affected patients. Furthermore, the prevention and control of oral ulcers is crucial for cancer prognosis, since the establishment of severe lesions may lead to temporary or permanent treatment discontinuation and compromise cancer control. The objective of this study was to present a review on this condition, its causes and its treatment to professional clinical dentists, in order to help minimize patient suffering. A search was conducted through PubMed, Lilacs and MedLine, to retrieve related articles published between 1994 and 2013.
Postgraduate Programme in Brazilian Health, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Maria Ines DA Cruz
MI
Campos
Department of Dental Clinic, Dental School, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Celso Neiva
CN
Campos
Laboratory of Immunopathology and Clinical Immunology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Fernando Monteiro
FM
Aarestrup
Department of Morphology (Histology and Embryology), Institute of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Beatriz Julião Vieira
BJ
Aarestrup
oral mucositis; pathology; prevention and control; therapy