Abstract
Aim: The present study is a pilot study which was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of mucositis and its grading in head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy or combination. Also it evaluated the prevalence of candida colonisation and its species in cancer patients as opposed to healthy individuals.
Methodology: The pilot study consisted of 35 patients divided into three groups, Group A consisting of 15 oral cancer patients divided into 3 groups of 5 each undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination respectively.Group B consisting of 5 oral cancer patients who did not receive any treatment till then. . Group C consisting of 15 healthy patients without any oral lesions. The patients were then assessed for the prevalence of oral mucositis and graded according to WHO criteria .A oral swab was taken from the labial and buccal vestibule of each of the 35 patients including the two control groups
Results: 100 percent patient receiving radiotherapy showed xerostomia and mucositis. Candidal carriage increased with the increase in xerostomia. Candida albicans was the species found in all the samples..
Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need to investigate and clarify the role of antifungal and antiviral prophylaxis in the severity of oral mucositis, pain and xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients who receive RT with or without chemotherapy.
