Onkológia 5/2014

Oral mucositis in radiotherapy of head and neck cancer and the possibilities of therapeutic intervention

Oral mucositis represents the key limiting toxicity of radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. In many cases, it disables to keep the full dose intensity of the treatment and thereby decreases its effectiveness. To the patient, it means suffering, associated with pain and inability of normal food intake. In spite of high incidence an clinical importance of this problem, at present time, there is no approved medication or treatment procedure which could effectively prevent the development of radiation induced mucositis. This paper provides an evidence based review of possible therapeutic interventions with the aim of decreasing the extent and severity of oral mucositis induced by radiotherapy.

Keywords: oral mucositis, radiotherapy, head and neck cancer, treatment, prevention.