J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2018 Jun;42(2):34-39. 10.11149/jkaoh.2018.42.2.34.

The relationship between oral health and radiation-induced mucositis among patients with head and neck cancer

• Park EY
• Sohn HO
• Jung YS
• Lee EK
• Kim EK

• KMID: 2421274
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2018.42.2.34

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study evaluated the relationship between oral hygiene and health status and radiationinduced mucositis among patients with head and neck cancer over an 8-week period.
METHODS
We recruited 40 patients with head and neck cancer scheduled to receive radiation therapy (RT), and 25 patients were included in the study. Before commencing RT, a dentist examined the patients for plaque, and determined the gingival index and pocket depth. A dental hygienist assessed the patients for radiation-induced mucositis once weekly, for 8 weeks, during RT.
RESULTS
The mean patient age was 60.96 (±8.47) years, and 21 (87.5%) patients were male. Twenty patients (83.3%) had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with cancer located in the head region had more severe mucositis than those with cancer in the neck region, but this was not significant statistically (P=0.053). However, toothbrushing frequency, plaque, gingival index, and pocket depth were not related to radiation-induced mucositis. During RT, the severity of mucositis significantly worsened compared to that at baseline.
CONCLUSIONS
Mucositis severity worsened during RT, but this was not related to oral hygiene and health status among patients with head and neck cancer.

Keyword

Head & neck cancer; Mucositis; Radiotherapy

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Dental Hygienists
Dentists
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Head*
Humans
Male
Mucositis*
Neck
Oral Health*
Oral Hygiene
Periodontal Index
Radiotherapy
Toothbrushing

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Interaction of cancer or radiotherapy related variables and radiotherapy treatment affecting mucositis.

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