ABSTRACT
Considerable oral toxicity of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in patients treated for cancer disease can cause patients to become discouraged and can alter their quality of life (Bensadoun et al. 2001; Elting et al. 2003; Sonis et al. 2004). In addition, such toxicity often necessitates alterations of treatment planning, with grave consequences in terms of tumor response and even survival (concept of dose intensity). With 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and head and neck radiotherapy, for example (Figures 49.1 and 49.2), acute mucosal toxic effect is the main limiting factor for which no clinically appropriate prophylaxis or efficacious antidote has been found to date. Management of oral mucositis (OM) is currently primarily directed at palliation of the symptoms and prevention of infections.
