Oral Complications

Oral complications are frequently experienced by patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation for treatment of malignancies. Cytotoxic therapies cause injury to the tissues of the oral cavity, resulting in inflammation and clinical manifestations of mucositis and sometimes secondary infection. Prophylactic oral hygiene protocols remain important while patients receive certain chemotherapeutic agents. The treatment of established mucositis is challenging, with limited supporting data for the various approaches utilized in practice. Systemic analgesia remains a cornerstone of therapy and is recommended for patients with oral pain related to cancer treatment. For patients with radiation-induced mucosal injury, liquid doxepin and a “magic mouthwash” cocktail appear to be effective. Ongoing work will focus on further prevention of such complications and enhancement of currently available therapeutic strategies.