[Effect of quadruple fluid aerosol inhalation on oral mucositis induced by radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of quadruple fluid aerosol inhalation on oral mucositis induced by radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its mechanism.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty NPC patients were divided into a treatment group (n=60) and a control group (n=60). Radiation therapy was administered conventionally over 7 weeks with 2.0 Gy daily fractions for 5 days each week at the 70 Gy. Patients in the control group accepted oral care conventionally, and patients in the treatment group used quadruple fluids aerosol inhalation before the radiotherapy. The saliva volume was measured by a nurse twice a week and the concentration of epidemal growth factor (EGF) was examined by ELISA.

RESULTS

The number of patients with mucositis in the treatment group was significantly fewer than that in the control group when the total doses were up to 30 Gy and 60 Gy (P<0.05). The concentration of EGF in the control group significantly decreased when total doses were up to 30 Gy and 60 Gy (P<0.01). The concentration of EGF in the treatment group was not significantly different compared with pre-radiotherapy when the total doses were up to 30 Gy, but when total doses were up to 60 Gy, the concentration of EGF in the treatment group obviously decreased compared with that of pre-radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The quadruple fluid aerosol inhalation is effective to reduce oral mucositis resulted from radiotherapy in NPC patients, which is related to the delay of the EGF decrease in the saliva.