Clinical, biological, histological features and treatment of oral mucositis induced by radiation therapy: a literature review

Abstract

The oral mucositis is a main side effect of radiotherapy on head and neck, initiating two weeks after the beginning of the treatment. It is characterized by sensation of local burning to intense pain, leading in several cases, to the interruption of the treatment. The purpose of this work is to review the main published studies that discusse the clinical, biological and histopathological features of oral mucositis induced by radiation therapy and to describe the main approches recommended to prevent or to treat it. Although the clinical features of mucositis are intensively described in the literature, few studies address the histopatological alterations in oral mucositis and only recently, its biological processes have been investigated. The biological mechanisms involved in the radiation tissue damage have been only recently discussed and there is no consensus among treatment modalities. Yet, the progressive knowledge in the histopathology and biological characteristics of oral mucositis probably will lead to more effective in prevention and control strategies.