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The effectiveness of mouthwashes in alleviating radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the study was to perform a systematic literature search and meta-analysis to reveal the most effective mouthwash for head and neck cancer patients who are experiencing radiation therapy-induced mucositis.

Methods

Using two electronic databases, a literature search and data interpretation were systematically performed as follows: (i) problem specification, (ii) devising of a literature search plan, (iii) literature search and retrieval of publications, and (iv) meta-analysis and data interpretation. The main problem was specified as follows: what mouthwash is effective in alleviating oral mucositis for head and neck cancer patients who are undergoing radiotherapy?

Results

The literature search yielded 354 titles and abstracts. After reviewing the extracted literature, 25 publications met the inclusion criteria for this study and 17 of 25 were eventually evaluated in the meta-analysis.

Conclusion

The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the use of a mouthwash that includes anti-inflammatory properties contributes the most to alleviating oral mucositis in patients who are undergoing radiotherapy to treat head and neck cancer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Keiji Tanimoto (Professor Emeritus, Hiroshima University) for his help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan

    Masaru Konishi & Takashi Nakamoto

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan

    Rinus Gerardus Verdonschot, Kiichi Shimabukuro, Minoru Fujita & Naoya Kakimoto

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  1. Masaru Konishi
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Correspondence to Masaru Konishi.

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Conflict of interest

Masaru Konishi, Rinus Gerardus Verdonschot, Kiichi Shimabukuro, Takashi Nakamoto, Minoru Fujita, and Naoya Kakimoto declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human rights statements

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Konishi, M., Verdonschot, R.G., Shimabukuro, K. et al. The effectiveness of mouthwashes in alleviating radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review. Oral Radiol 35, 207–223 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-018-0361-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-018-0361-9

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