Prevention and treatment of oral mucositis caused by chemo- and radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patient

Abstract

Background: Oral mucositis is one of the most common complications of chemo- and radiotherapy for treatment of cancer. This condition is prevalent in up to 40% of individuals who are undergoing cancer therapy. Adverse reactions include but not limited to malnutrition, prolonged hospital stays, increased risk of infection and negative impact in quality of life. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine and compare current evidence on treatment modalities for oral mucositis by performing a systemic review. A literature search identified for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for preventive and therapeutic intervention of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Methods: This systematic review followed the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook of Interventions Systematic Reviews and the PRISMA statement checklist and flowchart. A sensitive search protocol was developed to retrieve RCTs published in peer-reviewed journals from 1980 to September 2016 using MEDLINE via PubMed (1970–September 2016), EMBASE via Ovid (1980–September 2016). Search queries included MeSH terms for: oral mucositis; chemotherapy; radiotherapy; head and neck cancer. Identification of randomised trials was done according to CONSORT statement. 11 articles on laser therapy; 10 articles on topical treatment and 8 articles on medical therapy were included into the final review. Findings and Conclusion: The outcome of this study has identified effective medical and surgical interventions for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis. Further trials will be necessary to identify a superior modality or protocol as a standard therapy of radio- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Copyright © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.