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). Oral intake may be impaired due to pain, which in some cases may lead to the need for parenteral nutrition. In addition, the oral lesions weaken the mucosa barrier resulting in local or systemic infection.
In severe oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy, the dose in the subsequent chemotherapy cycle may have to be decreased or delayed, affecting patients' quality of life and worsening prognosis.
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