Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment

Abstract

BackgroundTreatment of cancer is increasingly effective but associated with short and long term side effects. Oral side effects, including oral mucositis (mouth ulceration), remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents to treat them. ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness of interventions for treating oral mucositis or its associated pain in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both.

A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis

“…A possible limitation to our findings is the small sample size of the included trials. Our finding is partly contradicting a Cochrane review [6] which was recently updated [37]. Our review deviates from their conclusions because we have included more studies and subgroup analyses by dose range and wavelengths.…”

A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis

“…A possible limitation to our findings is the small sample size of the included trials. Our finding is partly contradicting a Cochrane review [6] which was recently updated [37]. Our review deviates from their conclusions because we have included more studies and subgroup analyses by dose range and wavelengths.…”

Clinical effectiveness of compounded topical medications in oral medicine: a meta-analysis

“…Due to the very low quality of evidence, using allopurinol, GM-CSF, or iseganan 0.3% mouthwash to improve oral mucositis severity is not recommended. Participants who used morphine 0.2% mouthwash were less likely to experience oral pain than those without treatment, which was in accordance with two previous systematic reviews demonstrating that morphine can control of mucositis pain [111,112] . Morphine 0.2% mouthwash can be effective for the management of pain due to oral mucositis in patients receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer [112] .…”

Treatment of oral mucositis due to chemotherapy

“…A so-called “magic mouthwash” has been described, containing variable amounts of diphenhydramine, viscous lidocaine, bismuth subsalicylate and corticosteroids, with the purpose of affording pain relief and lessening the inflammation. However, some studies have not recorded significant improvement of the pain ( 6 , 7 , 10 , 38 ). The application of capsaicin and the use of colchicine rinses have also been described as treatments for pain associated to mucositis ( 6 , 38 ).…”

“…However, some studies have not recorded significant improvement of the pain ( 6 , 7 , 10 , 38 ). The application of capsaicin and the use of colchicine rinses have also been described as treatments for pain associated to mucositis ( 6 , 38 ). According to the review published by Worthington et al ( 10 ), there is no evidence that patient controlled analgesia is better than continuous infusion, although less opioid is administered per hour and the duration of pain is shorter.…”

A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis

“…A possible limitation to our findings is the small sample size of the included trials. Our finding is partly contradicting a Cochrane review [6] which was recently updated [37]. Our review deviates from their conclusions because we have included more studies and subgroup analyses by dose range and wavelengths.…”

Clinical effectiveness of compounded topical medications in oral medicine: a meta-analysis

“…Due to the very low quality of evidence, using allopurinol, GM-CSF, or iseganan 0.3% mouthwash to improve oral mucositis severity is not recommended. Participants who used morphine 0.2% mouthwash were less likely to experience oral pain than those without treatment, which was in accordance with two previous systematic reviews demonstrating that morphine can control of mucositis pain [111,112] . Morphine 0.2% mouthwash can be effective for the management of pain due to oral mucositis in patients receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer [112] .…”

Treatment of oral mucositis due to chemotherapy

“…A so-called “magic mouthwash” has been described, containing variable amounts of diphenhydramine, viscous lidocaine, bismuth subsalicylate and corticosteroids, with the purpose of affording pain relief and lessening the inflammation. However, some studies have not recorded significant improvement of the pain ( 6 , 7 , 10 , 38 ). The application of capsaicin and the use of colchicine rinses have also been described as treatments for pain associated to mucositis ( 6 , 38 ).…”

“…However, some studies have not recorded significant improvement of the pain ( 6 , 7 , 10 , 38 ). The application of capsaicin and the use of colchicine rinses have also been described as treatments for pain associated to mucositis ( 6 , 38 ). According to the review published by Worthington et al ( 10 ), there is no evidence that patient controlled analgesia is better than continuous infusion, although less opioid is administered per hour and the duration of pain is shorter.…”

A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis

“…A possible limitation to our findings is the small sample size of the included trials. Our finding is partly contradicting a Cochrane review [6] which was recently updated [37]. Our review deviates from their conclusions because we have included more studies and subgroup analyses by dose range and wavelengths.…”

Clinical effectiveness of compounded topical medications in oral medicine: a meta-analysis

“…Due to the very low quality of evidence, using allopurinol, GM-CSF, or iseganan 0.3% mouthwash to improve oral mucositis severity is not recommended. Participants who used morphine 0.2% mouthwash were less likely to experience oral pain than those without treatment, which was in accordance with two previous systematic reviews demonstrating that morphine can control of mucositis pain [111,112] . Morphine 0.2% mouthwash can be effective for the management of pain due to oral mucositis in patients receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer [112] .…”

Treatment of oral mucositis due to chemotherapy

“…A so-called “magic mouthwash” has been described, containing variable amounts of diphenhydramine, viscous lidocaine, bismuth subsalicylate and corticosteroids, with the purpose of affording pain relief and lessening the inflammation. However, some studies have not recorded significant improvement of the pain ( 6 , 7 , 10 , 38 ). The application of capsaicin and the use of colchicine rinses have also been described as treatments for pain associated to mucositis ( 6 , 38 ).…”

“…However, some studies have not recorded significant improvement of the pain ( 6 , 7 , 10 , 38 ). The application of capsaicin and the use of colchicine rinses have also been described as treatments for pain associated to mucositis ( 6 , 38 ). According to the review published by Worthington et al ( 10 ), there is no evidence that patient controlled analgesia is better than continuous infusion, although less opioid is administered per hour and the duration of pain is shorter.…”