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Influence of periodontitis on the experience of oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy: a pilot study

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Abstract

Background and aim

Periodontitis and radiation-induced oral mucositis are both inflammatory conditions which may be associated through a common underlying dysregulation of the inflammatory response. This pilot study aimed to determine whether the severity of oral mucositis is associated with the severity of periodontitis in cancer patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy.

Materials and methods

In this pilot study, 41 patients met the inclusion criteria. The severity of oral mucositis was measured according to the WHO system. The severity of periodontitis was assessed clinically and radiographically. Gingival crevicular fluid was sampled and levels of eight cytokines were determined using a multiplexed bead immunoassay. Associations between radiation-induced oral mucositis and periodontitis were analysed using logistic and linear regression.

Results

There was a trend towards a greater proportion of periodontitis patients in the mucositis groups (grades = 1–4) than in the non-mucositis group (grade = 0). However, due to the small sample size of this pilot study, these trends were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

This pilot study did not demonstrate a positive statistical correlation between periodontitis experience and severity of radiation-induced oral mucositis. Nonetheless, a trend towards increased bone loss, pocket depth and clinical attachment levels was noted in patients with mucositis grades 1–4. Larger studies with more stringent inclusion criteria are now required to further investigate this possible relationship between periodontitis experience and severity of radiation-induced oral mucositis.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by a grant from the Australian Dental Research Foundation. Statistical advice by Suzanne Edwards, University of Adelaide is gratefully acknowledged.

Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors listed on this manuscript have any financial relationship with the funding bodies that provided financial support for this research. Further, all authors have full control of all primary data and we consent to allowing the journal to review any/all data if required

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Arlene Khaw, Richard Logan & P. Mark Bartold

  2. Colgate Australian Clinical Dental Research Centre, Dental School, University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia

    Arlene Khaw & P. Mark Bartold

  3. Special Needs Unit, Adelaide Dental Hospital, Adelaide, Australia

    Sharon Liberali

  4. School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Dorothy Keefe

Authors
  1. Arlene Khaw
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  2. Sharon Liberali
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  3. Richard Logan
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  4. Dorothy Keefe
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  5. P. Mark Bartold
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Mark Bartold.

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Khaw, A., Liberali, S., Logan, R. et al. Influence of periodontitis on the experience of oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy: a pilot study. Support Care Cancer 22, 2119–2125 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2186-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2186-3

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