Radiotherapy-induced
mucositis decreases the quality of life by impairing eating, swallowing, and talking and by disturbing sleep.
Mucositis may also predispose to local and systemic
infections and may cause interruption of
radiotherapy course. We studied the efficacy of
sucralfate suspension in the prevention and management of
oral mucositis and
pain during
radiotherapy in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, prospective trial. Twenty-eight patients with
head and neck cancer were included in the study. The patients were randomized to use either
sucralfate mouth washing (n = 18) or placebo washing (n = 10) during irradiation.
Oral mucositis and symptoms were assessed by the same physician using
Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring criteria. All patients developed varying degrees of radiation-induced
mucositis. Grade 4
mucositis was not encountered in any patient. One patient had grade 1, seven patients grade 2, and two patients grade 3
mucositis in placebo group. In
sucralfate group, nine patients each had grade 1 and grade 2 with no grade 3
mucositis. Patients in the
sucralfate group experienced significantly lower degree of
mucositis than placebo group (p < 0.05).
Sucralfate mouth washing is beneficial in decreasing the intensity of radiation-induced
mucositis and oral discomfort. It is cheap, easy to administer with no serious side effect, and may be routinely used in patients receiving head and neck
radiotherapy.