Dysgeusia in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

The present study aimed to identify the characteristics of dysgeusia caused by cancer chemotherapy. We investigated 181 patients with oral adverse events from cancer chemotherapy who were referred to an oral surgery clinic. Oral mucositis, dysgeusia and dry mouth were found in 62 (34.3%), 61 (33.7%) and 28 (15.5%) patients, respectively. Most dysgeusia was grade 1 (95.1%, P < 0.001) and was found in 20 (50.0%), 16 (43.2%) and 5 (27.8%) patients with colorectal, breast and gynecological types of cancer, respectively. Dysgeusia was identified in 14 (70.0%), 13 (76.4%) and 10 (55.6%) patients treated with oxaliplatin, paclitaxel and doxorubicin, respectively. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) was evident in 70 (38.7%) patients, and 40 patients had both PN and dysgeusia. Frequency of dysgeusia was significantly higher in patients with PN than in patients without PN (P < 0.001). Dysgeusia tended to occur during treatment with oxaliplatin, paclitaxel and doxorubicin, and an association with PN was also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]