Assessment of Treatment Related Mucositis in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Oral Mucositis is a common adverse event following radiotherapy and chemotherapy of head and neck cancer. The present study evaluates mucositis in three different treatment arms. Out of 193 consecutive patients of locally advanced cancer of head and neck, 150 complied with the inclusion criteria.48 patients were included in Arm A i. e. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy followed by Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy, 55 patients in Arm B i. e. Concurrent Chemo-radiotherapy and 47 patients in Arm C i. e. Radiotherapy alone. In treatment arm A, grade 1, 2 and 3 mucositis occurred in 16.66 %, 33.33 %, and 50 % patients respectively. In treatment arm B, grade 1, 2 and 3 mucositis occurred in 9.09 %, 67.27 %, and 23.63 % respectively. In treatment arm C, grade 1, 2 and 3 mucositis occurred in 10.63 %, 63.82 %, and 25.53 % respectively. Mucositis peaked around week 3 in arm A and B and week 4 in arm C. The severity of mucositis increases with the complexity of treatment and by the addition of simultaneous chemo-radiation, resulting in increased duration and interruption of treatment.