Pathogenesis and Amelioration of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis

Abstract

Oral mucositis (OM) causes significant detriment to patient quality of life. Despite advances in RT, chemotherapy, and surgery for HNC which have led to improved local control and survival, management of certain toxicities such as OM have not kept pace. Numerous strategies have emerged with demonstrable benefit in preventing severe OM. However, ones which are not only effective, but practical and affordable to implement are rare. For example, infusion of growth factors or free radical scavengers, and daily treatment of intra-oral sites with lasers are supported by high-quality evidence but have not become widely adopted. It falls to familiarity of the physician with the available preventative measures and ultimately, patient preference in accepting which strategies for OM amelioration are used. In this review, we present a pathophysiological-based review of prevention techniques available for reducing the incidence and duration of severe OM.

Keywords: Antiseptic; Growth factors; Head and neck cancer; Mouth rinse; Mucositis; Oral; Oral hygiene; Oropharynx; Photobiomodulation; Probiotic; Radiotherapy; Reactive oxygen species; Toxicity.

Figure 1.

Steps in oral mucositis pathogenesis and the interventional strategies which target them are summarized in this figure. Growth factors and alternate systemic therapies are not shown.