Abstract

STUART VIEIRA HOLMES, Tatiana et al. Factors related to the occurrence and classification of radiation-induced oral mucositis. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2014, vol.51, n.1, pp.71-79. ISSN 0034-7507.

Introduction: oral mucositis is considered the most common acute complication resulting from head and neck antineoplastic therapy. It is characterized by erythema and mucosa edema, commonly followed by ulceration and peeling. Objective: this study aimed to assess the factors related to the onset and grading of oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Methods: a longitudinal study was conducted, comprising 22 patients with a diagnosis of head and neck malignancy undergoing radiotherapy. These patients were evaluated during 4 weeks and they were checked for the onset and grading of oral mucositis during antineoplastic treatment. Results: according to coefficient ñ tests by Spearman, U Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis, oral mucositis developed in 95.45% of patients who underwent head and neck radiotherapy, with higher grading among smokers compared with those of non-smokers, with statistically significant difference (p = 0.034). Conclusion: these results suggest that there was no association between age, alcohol consumption and patients' oral hygiene with the onset and grading of mucositis. Smokers were found to show higher grading of radiation-induced oral mucositis on its onset.

Keywords : head and neck cancer; oral mucositis; radiotherapy.

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