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Mucositis (Oral and Gastrointestinal)

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The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship

Abstract

Alimentary mucositis refers to inflammatory, erosive, and ulcerative lesions of any part of the gastrointestinal tract that occur secondary to cancer therapy. Thus, the term alimentary mucositis encompasses both oral and gastrointestinal mucositis. Mucositis can be classified according to the type of cancer therapy involved as chemotherapy-induced mucositis, radiation-induced mucositis, or a combination of the two. More recently, mucositis following targeted anticancer therapies has been described, but our understanding of that is only beginning to develop. Mucositis can be very painful and can significantly affect nutritional intake, mouth care, and the quality of life. It can be a dose-limiting toxicity of cancer therapy and thus have direct effects on patient survival, and in addition gastrointestinal mucositis is occasionally fatal. This chapter presents a comprehensive discussion on mucositis including its morbidity, economic impact, pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis and complicating factors, and measurement. In addition, preventive measures, pain control, nutritional support, and therapeutic interventions for mucositis are discussed, with reference to the MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines where applicable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Oral Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

    Rajesh V. Lalla

  2. Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Joanne M. Bowen

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  1. Rajesh V. Lalla
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Correspondence to Rajesh V. Lalla .

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  1. University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Ian Olver

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Lalla, R.V., Bowen, J.M. (2018). Mucositis (Oral and Gastrointestinal). In: Olver, I. (eds) The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90990-5_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90990-5_27

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