Recent advances in oral cryotherapy for the management of anticancer therapy-induced oral mucositis

Oral mucositis (OM) is a prevalent complication of cancer therapy, frequently associated with oral pain, dysphagia, malnutrition, and systemic infections. OM that develops during cancer treatment can result in delays or interruptions in anti-cancer therapies, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Oral cryotherapy (OC) involves the use of crushed ice, specialized cryotherapy devices, and other cooling methods to lower the temperature in the oral cavity during chemotherapy or radiotherapy, thereby reducing the incidence and severity of cancer treatment-related OM. This review aims to elucidate the role of OC in managing OM induced by anticancer therapy by summarizing the mechanisms, specific operational procedures, and potential adverse reactions associated with cryotherapy for OM. It also compares the efficacy of cryotherapy with other preventive and therapeutic approaches for OM, as well as their combined applications. While cryotherapy demonstrates effectiveness in preventing the incidence and severity of cancer treatment-related OM, it is not effective for OM that has already been formed because of previous treatments. Therefore, integrating cryotherapy with basic oral care, photobiomodulation therapy, pharmacological interventions, traditional Chinese medicine, and other modalities is essential for optimal prevention and management of cancer treatment-related OM.