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A systematic review of dysgeusia induced by cancer therapies

Supportive Care in Cancer volume 18, pages 1081–1087 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose was to review relevant scientific papers written since 1989 which focused on the prevalence and management of dysgeusia as an oral side effect of cancer treatment.

Methods

Our literature search was limited to English language papers published between 1990 and 2008. A total of 30 papers were reviewed; the results of 26 of these papers were included in the present systematic review. A structured assessment form was used by two reviewers for each paper. Studies were weighted as to the quality of the study design, and treatment recommendations were based on the relative strength of each paper.

Results

A wide range in reported prevalence of dysgeusia was identified with the weighted prevalence from 56–76%, depending on the type of cancer treatment. Attempts to prevent dysgeusia through the prophylactic use of zinc sulfate or amifostine have been of limited benefit. Nutritional counseling may be helpful to some patients in minimizing the symptoms of dysgeusia.

Conclusions

Dysgeusia is a common oral side effect of cancer therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or combined modality therapy) and often impacts negatively on quality of life. From the current literature, there does not appear to be a predictable way of preventing or treating dysgeusia.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Program in Oral Oncology/Dentistry, BC Cancer Agency, 600 W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5B 4E6, Canada

    Allan J. Hovan & P. Michele Williams

  2. Department of Dentistry, Vancouver General Hospital, 2775 Laurel Street, 7th Floor, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada

    Peter Stevenson-Moore

  3. Department of Paedodontics, University of Umea, 901 85, Umea, Sweden

    Yula B. Wahlin

  4. School or Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, 791 88, Falun, Sweden

    Kirsten E. O. Ohrn

  5. Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Linda S. Elting

  6. Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein1, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Fred K. L. Spijkervet

  7. Department of Oral Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC, 28232, USA

    Michael T. Brennan

Authors
  1. Allan J. Hovan
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  2. P. Michele Williams
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  3. Peter Stevenson-Moore
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  4. Yula B. Wahlin
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  5. Kirsten E. O. Ohrn
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  6. Linda S. Elting
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  7. Fred K. L. Spijkervet
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  8. Michael T. Brennan
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Consortia

Dysgeusia Section, Oral Care Study Group, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)/International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allan J. Hovan.

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Hovan, A.J., Williams, P.M., Stevenson-Moore, P. et al. A systematic review of dysgeusia induced by cancer therapies. Support Care Cancer 18, 1081–1087 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0902-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0902-1

Keywords

  • Dysgeusia
  • Cancer therapy
  • Amifostine