Patogénesis del dolor en la mucositis oral. Revisión de la literatura / Pathogenesis of pain in oral mucositis. Review of the literature

INTRODUCCIÓN: La mucositis oral es una lesión dolorosa que tiene lugar en la mucosa de la cavidad oral, normalmente su etiología se encuentra asociada a tratamientos farmacológicos en pacientes oncológicos. Se presenta como úlceras bien delimitadas cuya sintomatología dolorosa supone en ocasiones la suspensión del tratamiento oncológico o la alimentación por vía parenteral, siendo por tanto un efecto adverso importante, marcando el devenir en este tipo de terapias contra el cáncer. OBJETIVO: El objetivo del presente artículo es poner en relieve cómo se produce el dolor en esta patología que acontece en la mucosa de la cavidad oral. DISCUSIÓN: La mucositis oral se va a presentar tras una cascada de eventos biológicos que implican diferentes procesos moleculares tras el tratamiento con quimioterapia o radioterapia. El dolor en la mucositis oral puede poseer un componente inflamatorio y también un componente neuropático. En su fisiopatología, el dolor va a estar mediado por diferentes familias de receptores y factores. CONCLUSIÓN: La mucositis oral presenta un gran componente doloroso asociado, en el que cobran especial protagonismo en su aparición, las familias de los receptores y factores TRP, ET-1, TNF y ROS, entre otros. El conocimiento de la patogénesis del dolor en esta patología permitirá desarrollar terapéuticas contra el dolor en estudios futuros

INTRODUCTION: Oral mucositis is a painful lesion that occurs in the mucosa of the oral cavity. Its aetiology is usually associated with drug treatments in cancer patients. It presents as well-defined ulcers whose painful symptoms sometimes lead to the suspension of cancer treatment or parenteral nutrition. They therefore represent a significant adverse effect that marks the future in this type of cancer therapy. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to highlight how pain occurs in this pathology that takes place in the mucosa of the oral cavity. DISCUSSION: Oral mucositis will occur following a cascade of biological events involving different molecular processes following treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Pain in oral mucositis may have an inflammatory component as well as a neuropathic component. In its pathophysiology, pain will be mediated by different families of receptors and factors. CONCLUSION: Oral mucositis has a large associated painful component, in which the families of TRP, ET-1, TNF and ROS receptors and factors, among others, play a major role in its appearance. Knowledge of the pathogenesis of the pain in this pathology will allow pain therapies to be developed in future studies

A Case Report on Stomatitis Venenata Due to the Use of Lip Balm.

INTRODUCTION: Allergic reactions can manifest in various forms ranging from mild, almost unnoticeable reactions to life threatening anaphylaxis. Stomatitis venenata or contact stomatitis is described as a contact allergy of the oral mucosa which can occur due to repeated contact with the causative agent. Dental and cosmetic products, dental materials and dental therapeutic agents are the common allergens of the oral cavity. These allergies show varied clinical presentations, from swelling, pain, burning sensations to vesiculation, ulcerations, crusting and sloughing. Contact stomatitis due to cosmetic products have been on a rise recently due to the ease of availability and increase in their usage among individuals. AIM: The aim of this article is to present a case reports on an allergic reaction in a 17-year-old female triggered by the use of cosmetics. CASE REPORT: In the present article, we report a case of stomatitis venenata due to lip balm in a 17-year-old female for its rarity. CONCLUSION: Stomatitis venenata is a rare allergic condition that causes significant morbidity in an affected individual. Prompt recognition and elimination of the causative allergen followed by an appropriate therapy would help in complete resolution of this condition.

Daily Time of Radiation Treatment Is Associated with Subsequent Oral Mucositis Severity during Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Limited treatment options are available for oral mucositis, a common, debilitating complication of cancer therapy. We examined the association between daily delivery time of radiotherapy and the severity of oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: We used electronic medical records of 190 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who completed radiotherapy, with or without concurrent chemotherapy, at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, NY) between 2015 and 2017. Throughout a 7-week treatment course, patient mouth and throat soreness (MTS) was self-reported weekly using a validated oral mucositis questionnaire, with responses 0 (no) to 4 (extreme). Average treatment times from day 1 until the day before each mucositis survey were categorized into seven groups. Multivariable-adjusted marginal average scores (LSmeans) were estimated for the repeated- and maximum-MTS, using a linear-mixed model and generalized-linear model, respectively. RESULTS: Radiation treatment time was significantly associated with oral mucositis severity using both repeated-MTS (n = 1,156; P = 0.02) and maximum-MTS (n = 190; P = 0.04), with consistent patterns. The severity was lowest for patients treated during 8:30 to <9:30 am (LSmeans for maximum-MTS = 2.24; SE = 0.15), increased at later treatment times and peaked at early afternoon (11:30 am to <3:00 pm, LSmeans = 2.66-2.71; SEs = 0.16/0.17), and then decreased substantially after 3 pm. CONCLUSIONS: We report a significant association between radiation treatment time and oral mucositis severity in patients with head and neck cancer. IMPACT: Although additional studies are needed, these data suggest a potential simple treatment time solution to limit severity of oral mucositis during radiotherapy without increasing cost.

Animal models of mucositis: critical tools for advancing pathobiological understanding and identifying therapeutic targets.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Mucositis remains a prevalent, yet poorly managed side effect of anticancer therapies. Mucositis affecting both the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract predispose to infection and require extensive supportive management, contributing to the growing economic burden associated with cancer care. Animal models remain a critical aspect of mucositis research, providing novel insights into its pathogenesis and revealing therapeutic targets. The current review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current animal models used in mucositis research. RECENT FINDINGS: A wide variety of animal models of mucositis exist highlighting the highly heterogenous landscape of supportive oncology and the unique cytotoxic mechanisms of different anticancer agents. Golden Syrian hamsters remain the gold-standard species for investigation of oral mucositis induced by single dose and fractionated radiation as well as chemoradiation. There is no universally accepted gold-standard model for the study of gastrointestinal mucositis, with rats, mice, pigs and dogs all offering unique perspectives on its pathobiology. SUMMARY: Animal models are a critical aspect of mucositis research, providing unprecedent insight into the pathobiology of mucositis. Introduction of tumour-bearing models, cyclic dosing scheduled, concomitant agents and genetically modified animals have been integral in refining our understanding of mucositis.

Ecdysterone Accelerates Healing of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Rats by Increasing Matrix Cell Proliferation.

Development of oral mucositis represents a rate-limiting factor in radiation therapy for the treatment of head and neck, as well as other cancers. In this work, we investigated the treatment effect of ecdysterone (a steroid derived from the dry root of Achyranthes bidentate) on radiation-induced oral mucositis, and examined possible underlying mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 20 Gy X-ray irradiation (single dose, cranial localization) to induce oral mucositis. Possible therapeutic effects of ecdysterone on radiation-induced oral mucositis were investigated by monitoring weights, direct observations, visual scoring method and evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin staining. Assessments of leukocyte common antigen and proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining were also performed in the damaged areas of tongues harvested after irradiation, and changes in signaling pathways were investigated using Western blotting. The development and progression of radiation-induced oral mucositis in this model was similar to that observed in clinic patients. Ecdysterone effectively improved radiation-induced oral mucositis as assessed by direct observation and histopathology, and also increased proliferation of matrix cells, since the Ras-Raf-ERK signal pathway was found to be activated by its use. It was concluded that orally administered ecdysterone accelerated the healing process in a rat model of radiation-induced oral mucositis by upregulating the Ras-Raf-ERK signal pathway.

Effectiveness of Topical Application of Honey on Oral Mucosa of Children for the Management of Oral Mucositis Associated with Chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of topical application of honey on Oral Mucositis (OM) associated with chemotherapy. METHODS: An observational blind study is performed upon a sample of 100 children receiving chemotherapy who developed oral mucositis. All children are divided into two groups (control and experimental) who received different regimens. Both groups received routine practice of analgesic and antiseptic gel application whereas children in experimental group also received the topical application of honey on oral mucosa for the management of OM. All children are monitored from the day they developed oral mucositis until the subsidence of signs and symptoms of oral mucositis. The severity of OM was assessed with WHO-STC (Stomatitis Toxicity Criteria) scale by a observer blind. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference in reduction of severity of OM in both groups of children (p < 0.01). The duration of management of OM was significantly small in the experimental group (median 4 d, IQR: 4-6 d) as compared to the control group (median 6 d, IQR: 6-8 d) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The topical application of honey on oral mucosa was effective in reducing the severity and duration of management of chemotherapy induced oral mucositis (CIOM; p < 0.05) and that means honey is a good quality product with rich nutritious value and would be a pleasant, simple and cost-effective modality for the management of oral mucositis associated with chemotherapy.

Factors Contributing to the Duration of Chemotherapy-Induced Severe Oral Mucositis in Oncopediatric Patients.

This study analyzes the factors contributing to the duration of severe oral mucositis in oncopediatric patients. A longitudinal study was conducted in the pediatric department of a cancer referral hospital between 2013 and 2017. Seventy-three patients diagnosed with cancer undergoing chemotherapy protocols were analyzed. Oral evaluations were performed using the Modified Oral Assessment Guide criteria, and the data were collected from the patients' records. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival curves. Most patients were males (52.1%), of mixed race ("pardo") (49.3%), with a mean age of 7.56 years (±5.34). There was a predominance of patients diagnosed with solid tumors (52.1%), with no metastasis (86.3%), using natural product chemotherapeutics (56.2%), who had not undergone a bone marrow transplant (97.3%); amputation was observed in 35.6% of patients, while death rates were as high as 8.2%. The survival analysis estimated a mean time of 30.6 days until complete remission of severe oral mucositis. The regression analysis showed that patients over 10 years old had a median mucositis duration 1.4 times greater than those at the age of 10 years or younger. Patients without metastasis had a median mucositis duration 1.7 times greater than those with metastasis (p-value ≤ 0.10). Increasing age and the absence of metastasis were conditions that prolonged the duration of severe oral mucositis.

Unusual oral mucosal microbiota after hematopoietic cell transplantation with glycopeptide antibiotics: potential association with pathophysiology of oral mucositis.

Severe oral mucositis occurs frequently in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Oral mucosal bacteria can be associated with progression of oral mucositis, and systemic infection may occur via ulcerative oral mucositis. However, little information is available regarding the oral microbiota after HCT. Here, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was performed to characterize the oral mucosal microbiota, which can be affected by antibiotics, before and after HCT. Sixty reduced-intensity HCT patients were enrolled. Three patients with the least antibiotic use (quinolone prophylaxis and/or ß-lactam monotherapy group) and three patients with the most antibiotic use (ß-lactam-glycopeptide combination therapy group) were selected. Bacterial DNA samples obtained from the oral mucosa before and after HCT were subjected to PCR-DGGE. The trajectory of oral mucositis was evaluated. The oral mucosal microbiota in the ß-lactam-glycopeptide combination therapy group was different from that in the quinolone prophylaxis and/or ß-lactam monotherapy group, and Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. were identified. Lautropia mirabilis was dominant in one patient. Ulcerative oral mucositis was observed only in the ß-lactam-glycopeptide combination therapy group. In conclusion, especially with the use of strong antibiotics, such as glycopeptides, the oral mucosal microbiota differed completely from that under normal conditions and consisted of Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., and unexpectedly L. mirabilis. The normal oral microbiota consists not only of bacteria, but these unexpected bacteria could be involved in the pathophysiology as well as systemic infection via oral mucositis. Our results can be used as the basis for future studies in larger patient populations.

Onset, progression and resolution of experimental peri-implant mucositis at different abutment surfaces: A randomized controlled two-centre study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the onset, progression and resolution of experimentally induced peri-implant mucositis lesions at abutments with different microstructures in humans. MATERIAL & METHODS: In a randomized, controlled, interventional two-centre study, a total of 28 patients had received 28 target implants and were randomly allocated to either partially microgrooved (test) or machined (control) healing abutments. The study was accomplished in three phases, including a wound healing period (WH) following implant placement (12 weeks), a plaque exposure phase (EP-21 days) and a resolution phase (RP-16 weeks). Clinical (e.g. bleeding on probing-BOP), immunological (MMP-8) and microbiological (DNA counts for 11 species) parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of peri-implant mucositis at EPd21 was comparable in both test and control groups (60.0% versus 61.5%), but markedly lower at control abutments after a nonsurgical treatment and reconstitution of oral hygiene measures at RPw16 (46.7% versus 15.4%). At any follow-up visit (i.e. EP and RP), clinical parameters, MMP-8 levels and DNA counts of major bacterial species were not significantly different between both groups. CONCLUSION: The onset, progression and resolution of experimental peri-implant mucositis lesions were comparable in both groups.

Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on radiation-induced oral mucositis in male Syrian hamsters.

PURPOSE: Oral mucositis is a frequent and dose-limiting side effect of radiotherapy or chemotherapy in cancer patients. We investigated the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on radiation-induced oral mucositis in male Syrian hamsters. METHOD: Oral mucositis was induced in male Syrian hamsters by a single dose of 30-Gy irradiation. Eight days after irradiation, treatment with gel containing trafermin (basic fibroblast growth factor) at 1 or 10 µg up to day-21 was initiated. Re-epithelialization was graded using a six-point scoring system for oral mucositis. Samples of hamster cheek pouches were removed for histopathologic analyses and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The oral-mucositis score decreased in a dose-dependent manner upon trafermin treatment. Trafermin (10 µg) improved oral mucositis significantly compared with vehicle. Histopathology revealed that the degree of re-epithelialization was improved by treatment with trafermin (10 µg) compared with treatment with vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of trafermin (10 µg) can prevent mucosal damage to hamster cheek pouches induced by irradiation.

Chronic Gingivostomatitis with Esophagitis in Cats.

BACKGROUND: Chronic gingivostomatitis in cats (FCG) is a debilitating disease with potentially deleterious effects on overall health. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the pathophysiology and overall impact of FCG. The aims of our study were to investigate whether gingivostomatitis occurs concurrently with esophagitis, if FCG treatment contributes to esophagitis and if esophagitis exacerbates signs of FCG. ANIMALS: Fifty-eight cats with clinical signs of FCG and 12 healthy control cats exhibiting no signs of oral disease, all client-owned. METHODS: Prospective study. Physical, oral and endoscopic examinations were performed on all cats. Measurements of salivary and esophageal lumen pH were obtained from both groups. Biopsies were acquired from sites of esophageal inflammation in cats with FCG and from normal-appearing esophageal mucosa in control cats. RESULTS: The majority of cats with clinical signs of FCG exhibited some degree of esophagitis especially in the proximal (44/58) and distal (53/58) parts (P < 0.001) with or without columnar metaplasia, compared to controls. All cats lacked signs related to gastrointestinal disease. Salivary and esophageal lumen pH were not statistically different compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis seems to occur concurrently with esophagitis. Esophagitis also should be managed in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis because it may aggravate the existing condition.

Oral mucosal lesions in teenagers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a period of transition to adulthood. Little is known about oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) in teenagers, in which the emergence of new habits, unfamiliar to children, could affect the type of lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) in a wide sample of adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out examining all medical records of adolescents (aged 13-18 years) treated at the Dental Clinic of the University of Brescia (Italy) in the period from 2008 to 2014. Cases with OMLs were selected. Data regarding age, gender, type of OML, bad habits, systemic chronic diseases were collected. RESULTS: A total of 6.374 medical records (mean age 15.2 + -1.7 years) were examined. We found 1544 cases (31.7%) of oral mucosal lesions; 36 different types of mucosal alterations were detected and the most frequent were: aphthous ulcers (18%), traumatic ulcerations (14.3%), herpes simplex virus (11%), geographic tongue (9.6%), candidiasis (5.5%), and morsicatio buccarum (4.7%). Papilloma virus lesions (1.7%), piercing-related lesions (4%), multiform erythema (0.13%), oral lichen planus (0.13%) and granular cell tumour (0.06%) were also diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of OMLs in adolescents are different from those in children and, in some conditions, it could increase with age.

Prospective assessment of oral mucositis and its impact on quality of life and patient-reported outcomes during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common acute side effect during radiotherapy treatments for head and neck cancer (HNC), with a potential impact on patient's compliance to therapy, quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes. Its timely and appropriate management is of paramount importance. Several quantitative scoring scales are available to properly assess OM and its influence on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and QoL. We prospectively assessed OM in a cohort of HNC patients submitted to radiation using the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS), while its impact on PROs and QoL was evaluated employing the Oral Mucositis Weekly Questionnaire-Head and Neck Cancer (OMWQ-HN) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck Cancer (FACT-HN). Evaluation of OMAS scores highlighted a progressive increase in OM during treatment and a partial recovery after the end of radiation. These trends were correlated to PROs and QoL as evaluated with OMWQ-HN and FACT-HN questionnaires. In the present study, we provided a quantitative assessment of OM, PROs and QoL in HNC patient undergoing radiotherapy, potentially useful for future comparison.

Nocifensive Behaviors in Mice with Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis.

Oral mucositis can result in significant dysphagia, and is the most common dose-limiting acute toxicity in head and neck cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy. There is a critical need to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie radiotherapy-associated discomfort in patients with mucositis. The objective was to induce oral mucositis in mice, using a clinical linear accelerator, and to quantify resultant discomfort, and characterize peripheral sensitization. A clinical linear accelerator was used to deliver ionizing radiation to the oral cavity of mice. Mucositis severity scoring, and various behavioral assays were performed to quantify bouts of orofacial wiping and scratching, bite force, gnawing behavior and burrowing activity. Calcium imaging was performed on neurons of the trigeminal ganglia. Glossitis was induced with a single fraction of at least 27 Gy. Body weight decreased and subsequently returned to baseline, in concert with development and resolution of mucositis, which was worst at day 10 and 11 postirradiation, however was resolved within another 10 days. Neither bite force, nor gnawing behavior were measurably affected. However, burrowing activity was decreased, and both facial wiping and scratching were increased while mice had visible mucositis lesions. Sensory nerves of irradiated mice were more responsive to histamine, tumor necrosis factor alpha and capsaicin. Radiation-induced glossitis is associated with hyper-reactivity of sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglia of mice, and is accompanied by several behaviors indicative of both itch and pain. These data validate an appropriate model for cancer treatment related discomfort in humans.

Randomized study of the clinical effects of ω-3 fatty acid-containing enteral nutrition support during neoadjuvant chemotherapy on chemotherapy-related toxicity in patients with esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids have potential positive effects during chemotherapy, such as body weight maintenance and muscle mass preservation. However, little is known about the effect this supplement might have on reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicities. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of ω-3 fatty acid supplementation in the reduction of chemotherapy-related toxicities. METHODS: Sixty-one patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer randomly received ω-3-rich enteral nutrition (EN; n = 31) or ω-3-poor EN support (n = 30) for 15 d during chemotherapy. The daily dosage of ω-3 fatty acids was 900 mg in the ω-3-rich group and 250 mg in the ω-3-poor group. The primary endpoint was the frequency of grade 3/4 neutropenia, and secondary endpoints included other chemotherapy-related adverse events, body weight, and inflammatory markers. RESULTS: The total and dietary intake calories during chemotherapy were equal in both groups. There was no significant difference in the body weight change after chemotherapy between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 3/4 leukopenia and neutropenia (P > 0.05). However, stomatitis was significantly less frequent in the ω-3-rich group, than in the ω-3-poor group (P = 0.018). Grade 3/4 diarrhea occurred relatively less frequently in the ω-3-rich group than in the ω-3-poor group; however, this difference was not significant (16.1% versus 36.7%, respectively, P = 0.068). Increases in the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were seen significantly less frequently in the ω-3-rich group than in the ω-3-poor group (P = 0.012 and P = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ω-3-rich EN support decreased the frequency of chemotherapy-induced mucosal toxicities, such as stomatitis and diarrhea, and exhibited a hepatoprotective effect during chemotherapy, compared with the ω-3-poor EN support.

Prevalence and Mechanisms of Peri-implant Diseases.

The aim of the present critical review is to summarize recent evidence on the prevalence of peri-implant diseases and their similarities and differences with periodontal diseases with a focus on their pathogenetic mechanisms. Reports on the extent and severity of peri-implant diseases are influenced by different case definitions. The prevalence of peri-implant diseases is reported at the subject or implant level and affected by the type of population samples analyzed (e.g., randomly selected population samples or convenience samples). The outcomes of studies on animals and humans indicate that experimental biofilm accumulation leads to a higher frequency of bleeding sites around implants as compared with teeth. Despite the proof of principle that experimentally induced mucositis may be reversible, early diagnosis and management of naturally occurring peri-implant mucositis are clinically relevant. Tissue destruction at experimental peri-implantitis sites is faster and more extensive when compared with that at experimental periodontitis sites. Although human periodontitis and peri-implantitis lesions share similarities with respect to etiology and clinical features, they represent distinct entities from a histopathologic point of view. To avoid implant loss, patients diagnosed with peri-implantitis should be treated without delay.

Role of Gabapentin in Managing Mucositis Pain in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy to the Head and Neck.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) is a painful and debilitating side effect that affects 80%-100% of patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. This dose-limiting side effect may potentially lead to pain, dehydration, malnutrition, infection, and treatment breaks. Treatment breaks can lead to decreased disease control and suboptimal patient outcomes. No primary prevention exists for OM, and management is focused on pain control. Compelling evidence exists that OM pain has somatic and neuropathic components. OBJECTIVES: This article reviews the existing literature on the use of gabapentin (Neurontin®) as a co-analgesic in treating the neuropathic pain in OM. METHODS: A literature search was performed using CINAHL® and PubMed with the search terms gabapentin and oral mucositis. The selected articles were briefly screened for relevance, and three were included in this review. FINDINGS: No systematic reviews exist on the role of gabapentin for neuropathic pain in radiation-induced OM. Two retrospective studies concluded that gabapentin reduced escalation of opioid doses and unplanned treatment breaks. One retrospective study demonstrated favorable swallowing outcomes. Pain and OM are nursing-sensitive outcomes that can be significantly affected by evidence-based nursing interventions.

Oral pathology in inflammatory bowel disease.

The incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) - Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) - has been increasing on a global scale, and progressively, more gastroenterologists will be included in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD. Although IBD primarily affects the intestinal tract, extraintestinal manifestations of the disease are often apparent, including in the oral cavity, especially in CD. Specific oral manifestations in patients with CD are as follows: indurate mucosal tags, cobblestoning and mucogingivitis, deep linear ulcerations and lip swelling with vertical fissures. The most common non-specific manifestations, such as aphthous stomatitis and angular cheilitis, occur in both diseases, while pyostomatitis vegetans is more pronounced in patients with UC. Non-specific lesions in the oral cavity can also be the result of malnutrition and drugs. Malnutrition, followed by anemia and mineral and vitamin deficiency, affects the oral cavity and teeth. Furthermore, all of the drug classes that are applied to the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases can lead to alterations in the oral cavity due to the direct toxic effects of the drugs on oral tissues, as well as indirect immunosuppressive effects with a risk of developing opportunistic infections or bone marrow suppression. There is a higher occurrence of malignant diseases in patients with IBD, which is related to the disease itself and to the IBD-related therapy with a possible oral pathology. Treatment of oral lesions includes treatment of the alterations in the oral cavity according to the etiology together with treatment of the primary intestinal disease, which requires adequate knowledge and a strong cooperation between gastroenterologists and specialists in oral medicine.

Effectiveness of honey on radiation-induced oral mucositis, time to mucositis, weight loss, and treatment interruptions among patients with head and neck malignancies: A meta-analysis and systematic review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Mucositis is a disabling effect of radiotherapy in head and neck cancers. There is no current standard on management of radiation-induced mucositis. Honey has been shown to reduce radiation-induced mucositis. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to assess the ability of honey in reducing the severity of oral mucositis, time to mucositis, weight loss, and treatment interruptions. RESULTS: Eight studies were included and showed that honey was significantly better in lowering the risk for treatment interruptions, weight loss, and delaying time to mucositis, but not severity of mucositis. CONCLUSION: There is current evidence that honey is beneficial for patients with head and neck cancers by decreasing treatment interruptions, weight loss, and delaying the onset of oral mucositis, but not in decreasing peak mucositis score. In light of the results, honey is a reasonable treatment for radiation-induced mucositis, but more randomized clinical trials (RCTs) should be done. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1119-1128, 2016.