Oral mucositis and selective elimination of oral flora in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy: a double-blind randomised clinical trial

Mucositis is an acute inflammation of the oral mucosa because of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. All patients receiving radiotherapy in the head and neck region develop oral mucositis. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of selective oral flora elimination on radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis, in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Sixty-five patients with a malignant tumour in the head and neck regions to be treated with primary curative or postoperative radiotherapy participated in this study. The patients received either the active lozenges of 1 g containing polymyxin E 2 mg, tobramycin 1.8 mg and amphotericin B 10 mg (PTA) (33 patients) or the placebo lozenges (32 patients), four times daily during the full course of radiotherapy. Mucositis, changes in the oral flora, quality of feeding and changes of total body weight were assessed. Mucositis score did not differ between the groups during the first 5 weeks of radiotherapy. Nasogastric tube feeding was needed in six patients (19%) of the placebo group and two patients (6%) of the PTA group (P=0.08). Mean weight loss after 5 weeks of radiation was less in the PTA group (1.3 kg) (s.d.: 3.0) than in the placebo group (2.8 kg) (s.d.: 2.9) (P=0.05). Colonisation index of Candida species and Gram-negative bacilli was reduced in the PTA group and not in the placebo group (P<0.05). No effect on other microorganisms was detected. In conclusion, selective oral flora elimination in head and neck irradiation patients does not prevent the development of severe mucositis. Record 8 of 10 - SilverPlatter MEDLINE(R)

Dental therapy before and after radiotherapy–an evaluation on patients with head and neck malignancies

The present investigation evaluates the dental care situation of patients with head and neck cancer before and after radiotherapy. The situations of these patients in 1993 and 2005 were compared to detect similarities, differences and developments. In the years 1993 and 2005, 37 and 36 patients, respectively, with head and neck cancer treated by the local departments of otorhinolaryngology and of radiotherapy were examined consecutively according to their aftercare appointments. Time points of radiotherapy treatment of the patients evaluated in 1993 varied from 1984 to 1993. The patients evaluated in 2005 had received radiotherapy between 1998 and 2005. Therefore the applied radiotherapeutic regimen differed not only between the two groups of patients, but also within each group. The information for these investigations was provided anonymously. It was evaluated with descriptive statistics. The evaluation of the data shows distinct differences with respect to preventive and therapeutic dental care measures. In 2005, 35 out of 36 patients (97.2%) had a dental consultation before radiotherapy (1993, 65%). All 27 dentate patients (100%) obtained a splint for fluoride application (1993, none). 29% fewer edentulous patients were seen than in 1993. The number of teeth destroyed decreased from 19.2% (1993) to 7.8% in 2005. Mycoses due to Candida spp. and chronic failures in wound healing were rare (5.5%). In the course of the 12 years, prophylactic measures, such as the application of splints for fluoride treatment, were intensified. However, concepts for the dental care of patients undergoing radiotherapy, especially following the radiation, should be widened to avoid ruined teeth and long delayed wound healings

Arthroscopic findings in osteoarthritic temporomandibular joints

Purpose: This article reports on the results of a study of the arthroscopic findings in the joint surfaces of osteoarthritic temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Patients and Methods: Arthroscopy was performed in the upper joint compartment of 40 TMJs in 40 patients. Thirty-one TMJs that were diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) constituted the Ok group. On the basis of the presence of symptoms related to disc displacement and perforation, OA subgroups were defined. Nine TMJs that were not involved with OA constituted the control group. During the examination, various arthroscopic variables were recorded. Differences between groups and between subgroups were tested statistically. Results: In the OA group, several arthroscopic variables were found significantly more frequently than in the control group. These included retrodiscal tissue redundancy, adhesions, and heightened attachment to the posterior wall of the glenoid fossa; articular disc displacement and limited mobility; and cartilage degeneration in the articular eminence. Moreover, in the OA group, disc displacement was found significantly more frequently in the period after 6 months than during the first 6 months of clinical signs and symptoms. Anterodiscal hypervascularity was found significantly more frequently during the first year than after the first year, as well as more during the first 2 years than after the first 2 years of clinical signs and symptoms, whereas a lowered attachment on the anterior slope of the articular eminence was found significantly more often after 2 years than during the first 2 years of clinical signs and symptoms. Conclusions: The findings in this study suggest that OA of the TMJ may initially result in synovial tissue hypervascularity, creeping synovitis, and redundancy, and subsequently in adhesion formation and a reduction of the posterior and anterior recess. Because of cartilage fibrillation on the articular eminence, and the subsequently reduced surface smoothness, the articular disc may become displaced. Eventually, disc mobility is limited, and adhesions and a reduced posterior and anterior recess prevail

Clinical effects of flurbiprofen tooth patch on radiation-induced oral mucositis. A pilot study

Background: Mucositis is an oral sequela of radiotherapy. In the development of mucositis several mechanisms play a role, such as inflammation and the effect of radiation on the high proliferation rate of oral basal epithelial cells. Therefore, administration of a drug with antiinflammatory and antiproliferative properties might delay the disorder and/or alleviate the severity of oral mucositis. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of flurbiprofen in a tooth patch on the development, severity and duration of pseudomembranous mucositis in patients treated with curative head and neck radiotherapy. Methods: The study group comprised 12 patients with a malignant tumor in the head and neck region to be treated with primary curative or postoperative radiotherapy. Patients applied once a day before sleep a flurbiprofen tooth patch to a natural tooth or upper denture during the full course of radiotherapy, starting 1 week before the onset of radiotherapy. Oral mucositis, pain, feeding, body weight and viability and maturation of epithelial cells were assessed. The results were compared with the findings in a historical control group. Results: No differences were found for severity and duration of pseudomembranous mucositis between the two groups. The onset of pseudomembranous/ ulcerative mucositis occurred later in the flurbiprofen group ( 14.6+/-3.8 days, mean+/-SD) than in the historical control group ( 11+/-3.5 days; P<0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that the flurbiprofen 15 mg tooth patch cannot prevent the development of pseudomembranous mucositis and has no influence on the duration of oral mucositis

Primary sialoangiectasia - a diagnostic pitfall in Sjogren's syndrome - Case report

A case of primary sialoangiectasia, which in this case was initially misdiagnosed as Sjogren's syndrome, is described. Other diseases, including HIV infection, psoriatic arthritis, and acute parotitis, may cause glandular changes similar to the changes found in the syndrome. Therefore, sialography must be combined with other methods of assessment of the oral cavity when suspicion is high for Sjogren's syndrome. Properly applied, sialography provides essential information regarding the severity of glandular damage and the progression of the disease

Oral sequelae of head and neck radiotherapy

In addition to anti-tumor effects, ionizing radiation causes damage in normal tissues located in the radiation portals. Oral complications of radiotherapy in the head and neck region are the result of the deleterious effects of radiation on, e. g., salivary glands, oral mucosa, bone, dentition, masticatory musculature, and temporomandibular joints. The clinical consequences of radiotherapy include mucositis, hyposalivation, taste loss, osteoradionecrosis, radiation caries, and trismus. Mucositis and taste loss are reversible consequences that usually subside early post-irradiation, while hyposalivation is normally irreversible. Furthermore, the risk of developing radiation caries and osteoradionecrosis is a life-long threat. All these consequences form a heavy burden for the patients and have a tremendous impact on their quality of life during and after radiotherapy. In this review, the radiation-induced changes in healthy oral tissues and the resulting clinical consequences are discussed