Open AccessOral Mucositis Complicating Chemotherapy and/or Radiotherapy: Options for Prevention and Treatment
Author(s) -
Köstler Wolfgang J.,
Hejna Michael,
Wenzel Catharina,
Zielinski Christoph C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ca: a cancer journal for clinicians
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 62.937
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1542-4863
pISSN - 0007-9235
DOI - 10.3322/canjclin.51.5.290
Subject(s) - mucositis , medicine , radiation therapy , concomitant , chemotherapy , neutropenia , side effect (computer science) , oncology , surgery , intensive care medicine , computer science , programming language
Chemotherapy‐ and radiotherapy‐induced oral mucositis represents a therapeutic challenge frequently encountered in cancer patients. This side effect causes significant morbidity and may delay the treatment plan, as well as increase therapeutic expenses. The pathogenesis of this debilitating side effect can be attributed to the direct mucosal toxicity of cytotoxic agents and ionizing radiation and to indirect mucosal damage caused by a concomitant inflammatory reaction exacerbated in the presence of neutropenia, and the emergence of bacterial, mycotic, and viral infections. The prophylactic and therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of oral mucositis consists of locally and systemically applied nonpharmacological measures and pharmacotherapeutics.