Effect of Fluconazole as Prophylactic Treatment of Mycotic Mucositis in Patients with Head and Neck Cancers on Radiotherapy

Abstract

This randomized clinical trial aimed toevaluate the effect of fluconazole antifungal as prophylactic measure on the incidence and severity of radiation therapy induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. More interestingly that the current study also evaluated the impact of fluconazole prophylaxis on the nutritional status and quality of life of this patient population.

Eighty patients with head and neck cancer, planned to receive radiotherapy in Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Unit- Ain Shams University Hospitals were categorized into two groups. The first group (study group) in which 40 patients received oral fluconazole 100mg/day starting from the sixth irradiation session throughout treatment course and the second group (control group) with similar radiotherapy characteristics included 40 patients who didn’t receive antifungal prophylaxis. The current study measured parameters included; incidence and severity of oral mucositis, impact of oral mucositis on nutritional status as measured by malnutrition score and on patient quality of life as measured by a disease specific questionnaire for head and neck cancer patients.