Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Radiation Treatment of Organotypic Cultures from Submandibular and Parotid Salivary Glands Models Key In Vivo Characteristics
Published on: May 17, 2019
[Factors for oral infections in patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy]
Dingfen Zeng1, Xiaoxia Li2, Ronghao Sun2
1Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu 610041, China;
Objective:
To investigate the factors associated with oral infections in patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
Methods:
Clinical data of 241 patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy between March 2012 and May 2014 in sichuan cancer hospital were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors related to oral infection occurring in the patients. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.
Results:
Ninety-three (38.59%) of 241 cases had oral infection. Among the 93 cases, 49 (52.69%) cases presented with fungal infections, 44 (47.31%) cases with bacterial infection, and 38 (40.86%) cases with mixed infection. Oral infection occurred since the fifth week after radiotherapy in 55 (59.14%) patients. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for oral infection after radiotherapy were the late stage of cancer, poor oral health habits, the coexistence of multiple treatments, city dwellers and surgical history (all P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Oral infections commonly occur in the late period of radiotherapy. The late stage of cancer, poor oral health habits, the coexistence of multiple treatments, city dwellers and surgical history are key risk factors for oral infection in patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:49Cancer Therapies
01:11Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
01:27The Oral Microbiota
01:26Tonsillitis II: Management