Risk Factors

The incidence of oral mucositis varies across oncology patient populations and is related to individual patient factors as well as the type of therapy being received.

  • Standard-dose chemotherapy – 40%
  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation – 80%
  • Radiation therapy for head and neck cancers - nearly 100%

Figure 16-1: Patient-Related Risk Factors for Oral Mucositis

From “Oral Mucositis”, (p. 334) by Brown, C.G., in C.G.Brown (Ed.), A guide to oncology symptom management, 2010, Pittsburgh, PA:Oncology Nursing Society. Reprinted with permission.

Table 16-1: Treatment-Related Risk Factors for Oral Mucositis

From “Oral Mucositis”, (p. 335) by Brown, C.G., in C.G.Brown (Ed.), A guide to oncology symptom management, 2010, Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society. Reprinted with permission.

Figure 16-2: Chemotherapeutic Agents with Affinity to Cause Oral Mucositis

From “Oral Mucositis”, (p. 336) by Brown, C.G., in C.G.Brown (Ed.), A guide to oncology symptom management, 2010, Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society. Reprinted with permission.

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