ORAL MUCOSITIS

Course overview

ORAL MUCOSITIS IS A SEVERELY DEBILITATING CONDITION CHARACTERIZED BY ERYTHEMA, EDEMA, AND ULCERATIONS OF THE ORAL MUCOSA. IT IS A COMPLICATION OF RADIATION THERAPY (RT) TO THE HEAD AND NECK, CHEMOTHERAPY, CHEMORADIOTHERAPY, AND HEMATOPOEITIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION (HSCT). THE LESIONS CAN ALSO BREAK THE MUCOSA BARRIER RESULTING IN LOCAL OR SYSTEMIC INFECTION. IN SEVERE CASES, THIS CAN LEAD TO PARENTERAL NUTRITION, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO POOR QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, HISTORY AND PHYSICAL, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT OF ORAL MUCOSITIS.