Oral cavity complications of bone marrow transplantation.

Bone marrow transplantation, once regarded as experimental, has evolved into a standard treatment for a variety of malignancies. Considerable advances have been made in histocompatibility typing, pretransplantation chemotherapy, and posttransplantation immunosuppressive therapy as well as prophylaxis and treatment of infections. Oral complications develop in almost all patients, and their early recognition may result in the institution of prompt treatment and prolonged survival. Mucositis, often severe and extremely painful, develops in more than three quarters of bone marrow transplant recipients, and its prevention, unfortunately, remains unsatisfactory. Herpes simplex virus and Candida albicans account for most oral infections, although their incidence has been dramatically reduced by the institution of prophylactic agents. Graft versus host disease continues to be a significant complication of marrow transplantation, and the detection of commonly occurring oral changes may support its diagnosis.