Radiation induced oral mucositis – A case report with review of literature

Oral mucositis is a frequently occurring and debilitating complication of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. It is an early effect of radiation and results from mitotic death of the basal cells of the oral epithelium. It usually appears 2 weeks after initiation of radiotherapy. Many treatments have already been discussed regarding the management of this condition, but some reports show little evidence supporting the effectiveness of some of these interventions. The role of the general practitioner in the prevention and management of radiation induced mucositis is critical. The general practioner must collaborate with the oncologist, dental surgeon to ensure comprehensive treatment of this condition. Here we report a case of radiation induced oral mucosities in 62 year old male patient. Keywords: Oral mucositis, Cancer, Radiation therapy, Treatment