2Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, İstanbul University Faculty of Dentistry, İstanbul-Turkey
3Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, İstanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Health Sciences, İstanbul-Turkey
4Department of Medical Education, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul-Turkey DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2019.2161 OBJECTIVE
To maintain the barrier function against mucositis-induced pain and to improve the nutritional status and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy.
METHODS
All patients (n=30) used oral gel to reduce mucositis-induced pain. Patients were examined weekly for
the severity of mucositis, pain and nutritional status. The quality of life parameters was measured at the
beginning and at the end of treatment. There was no restriction for pain killers against mucositis.
RESULTS
The only significant factor affecting the severity and frequency of mucositis was the cumulative radiation
dose (p<0.001). Despite the regular use of oral gel, weight loss was observed in 65% of the patients. There
was no difference concerning the severity of mucositis, cumulative radiation doses, or mean dose of oral
mucosa between patients with no risk or at risk, according to SGA. However, self-assessment pain scores
were significantly better in the well-nourished group (p=0.05 vs. 0.015) with better scores for dry mouth
(p=0.043), social eating (p=0.006), swallowing difficulties (p=0.001) and communication (p=0.049).
CONCLUSION
Supporting the barrier function alone does not help to reduce the severity and frequency of mucositis,
nor the oral pain in high doses. Mucositis-induced pain may have a direct effect on malnutrition risk
and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. Powerful strategies are required to manage pain due
to mucositis during curative radiotherapy.