mucositis

Introduction

Inflammation of a mucous membrane

Etiology

• oral mucositis is a common complication of chemotherapy & radiation therapy

Clinical manifestations

• signs & symptoms generally start 4-7 days after administration of chemotherapy & 10 days after radiation therapy
• inflammation on buccal mucosa labial mucosa, & ventral surface of tongue
• early ulcerative changes often apparent by the end of the 2nd week of treatment
• oropharyngeal pain, dysphagia, & loss of taste

Complications

• mucositis predisposes patients to infections with Staphylococcus & Streptococcus mitis

Management

supportive treatment

• salt & baking soda rinses
• topical anesthetics (2% viscous lidocaine)
• chlorhexidine without alcohol (0.12%)
• 1/2 & 1/2 mixture of diphendydramine & milk of magnesia
• topical corticosteroids for ulcers
• adequate hydration, oral lubricants, humidified air
• soft foot, protein & vitamin supplements
  • supplemental zinc to help loss of taste
• avoidance of alcohol & tobacco
• cleaning of dentures with antimicrobial solution

prevention

• oral cryotherapy may be useful for prevention of oral mucositis in patients receiving bolus 5-FU chemotherapy or high-dose melphalan

More general terms

• inflammation
• mucosal disease

More specific terms

• stomatitis (includes oral ulceration)