[Cytostatic-induced stomatitis]

45 patients with oral cancer preoperatively received regional intraarterial chemotherapy (RIAC). All patients developed stomatitis or glossitis limited to the region of cytostatic perfusion. Between 1 and 19 days (median 4 days) after RIAC the tumor was removed by hemiglossectomy, partial resection of the floor of the mouth etc. The tissue alterations induced by chemotherapy in these surgical specimens were analyzed histomorphologically. Stomatitis due to RIAC was characterized by necrosis, ulceration and severe epithelial dysplasia of mucous membranes. Approximately 2 weeks after chemotherapy both the inflammatory changes and the dysplasia had disappeared completely. The differences between spontaneous premalignant dysplasia of the oral cavity and dysplasia induced by RIAC are discussed.