CLINICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL TRIAL ON THE EFFECT OF SIMMONDSI CHINENSIS (J0J0BA) OIL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RADIATION INDUCED MUCOSITIS IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

Cancer of the head and neck accounts for about I 0% of all malignant lesions worldwide. Ionizing radiation is a common treatment modality used with these patients. One of the most common side effects of the therapeutic doses of radiation is oral mucositis which ranges from burning sensation to life threatening sepsis caused by oral microorganisms. Ulcerative mucositis is one of the most seri_ous and dose limiting adverse effects of radiotherapy. The present work was done to study the clinical and bacteriological effects of Jojoba oil in minimizing the incidence and severity of radiation induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients This study was done on 30 patients selected from the radiotherapy department of the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. All patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and were scheduled to receive external radiation therapy with a total dose of 6000-6200 cGY. Participating patients were randomly allocated into two groups: I. Group I (Jojoba group), comprising 20 patients (15 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 49.6 ± 10.9 years. They received pre• radiotherapy dental care, three weeks before the onset of radiotherapy sessions. Home dental care instructions in the fonn of tooth brushing and saline mouth washing together with Jojoba oil application were recommended during the study period and follow up. 2. Group 2 (control group), comprising IO patients (7 males and 3 females) with a mean age of 51.4 ± I 1.7 years. Pre-radiotherapy dental care was done and the same home dental care instructions were advised