Effect of Mouth Opening Training Stick Combined with Oral Massage on Mouth Opening Difficulty in Head and Neck Cancer Patients after Treatment

Objective: To study the application effect of mouth-opening training sticks combined with oral massage on patients with mouth-opening difficulty after treatment for head and neck cancer. Methods: Using convenient sampling, 60 patients with mouth-opening difficulty after treatment for head and neck cancer admitted to the Oncology Department from February 2022 to October 2023 were selected for a 2-week exercise and nursing program. The patients were divided into a control group (February 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022) and an observation group (December 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023), with 30 patients in each group. The control group underwent routine mouth-opening functional exercises combined with cork for oral support training, while the observation group underwent routine mouth-opening functional exercises combined with oral massage and mouth-opening training sticks for oral support training. The mouth-opening degree, mouth-opening difficulty level, comfort level, compliance, and quality of life were observed in both groups. Results: Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in mouth-opening degree and mouth-opening difficulty level between the two groups (P > 0.05). After the intervention, the mouth-opening degree, mouth-opening difficulty level, oral comfort level, compliance, and QLICP-HN scores in the observation group were all better than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of mouth-opening training sticks and oral massage with mouth-opening functional exercises can effectively improve the degree of mouth-opening difficulty, enhance oral comfort, increase compliance with mouth-opening exercises, and improve quality of life.

Oral Health Management of Three Head and Neck Cancer Patients Performed by Dental Hygienists

Introduction: Oral health management is often difficult in patients after surgical tumor resection and/or radiotherapy due to defects, bulky flaps, limitation of tongue movement, and trismus. In addition, patients who have undergone radiotherapy have serious disabilities such as oral mucositis, mucosal weakening, soft tissue fibrosis, salivary gland disorder, and osteoradionecrosis. Dental hygienists must understand the characteristics of patients after surgical tumor resection and/or radiotherapy. In this report, the oral health management of three patients after maxillectomy, mandibulectomy, and radiotherapy was shown. Case Description: Case 1: A 53-year-old male patient visited our clinic after chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and partial maxillectomy for cancer of the right maxillary gingiva. Case 2: A 65-year-old male patient visited our clinic after radiotherapy for a right-sided tongue cancer, partial mandibulectomy of the right tongue to the oropharynx, a right-sided segmental mandibulectomy and a speech aid and a mandibular prosthesis were provided. Case 3: A 36-year-old female visited our clinic for radiotherapy for left-sided tongue cancer. Dental hygienists provided oral health management to the patients. In oral health management, it was suggested that intervention before cancer treatment, oral hygiene instructions tailored to patients’ symptoms, and frequent professional care are important. Conclusion: Oral health management by dental hygienists is extremely important for patients undergoing maxillofacial cancer treatment to maintain their quality of life in the long term.

A review of clinical and histological parameters associated with contralateral neck metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC） has a high incidence of cervical micrometastases and sometimes metastasizes contralaterally because of the rich lymphatic intercommunications relative to submucosal plexus of oral cavity that freely communicate across the midline, and it can facilitate the spread of neoplastic cells to any area of the neck consequently. Clinical and histopathologic factors continue to provide predictive information to contralateral neck metastases （CLNM） in OSCC, which determine prophylactic and adjuvant treatments for an individual patient. This review describes the predictive value of clinical-histopathologic factors, which relate to primary tumor and cervical lymph nodes, and surgical dissection and adjuvant treatments. In addition, the indications for elective contralateral neck dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy （aRT） and strategies for follow-up are offered, which is strongly focused by clinicians to prevent later CLNM and poor prognosis subsequently.

Regional differences in incidence and mortality trends in cancers of the larynx, thyroid, oral cavity and pharynx in England and Scotland: 1975-2002

Context: There have been significant changes in the epidemiology of head and neck cancers (HNC) in the last three decades worldwide. Documenting these trends helps to facilitate cancer prevention measures and aids resource allocation. Objective: To analyse incidence and mortality trends in Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) in the UK and compare regional differences between England and Scotland. Design: Retrospective quantitative analysis of time trends of HNC cases in the UK recorded in the International Agency for Research into Cancer (IARC) CI5 database and WHO mortality database. Setting: Cancer databases with extraction of UK HNC incidence and mortality time trends. Patients: All patients with cancers of the larynx, thyroid, oral cavity and pharynx in the UK (1975-2002) recorded in the IARC and WHO databases. Main Outcome Measures: HNC incidence and mortality trends in the UK. Results: There has been an increase in incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer in the UK especially among males with higher rates in Scotland. However mortality has increased in Scotland and reduced in England. Thyroid cancer incidence has increased in the UK especially among females with higher rates in Scotland. Mortality has reduced in both regions. Laryngeal cancer among males has increased in incidence particularly in Scotland with a decline in incidence in England. Mortality has reduced significantly in England among males but increased in Scotland. Conclusions: In the UK, Scotland has higher incidence rates of HNC compared with England. Mortality has reduced in England from all the HNC sub-sites but has increased in Scotland for laryngeal, oral & pharynxgeal cancers. Although socioeconomic deprivation and its relation to higher alcohol and tobacco consumption have been highlighted as drivers, further studies are required.

Translational aspects of themodern genetics in head and neck cancers

Oral cancer(OC)is one of the most recurrent cancers in the head and neck squamous cancer(SCCHN)category.Recently,the genome-wide association studies(GWAS)have gained growing interest in the scientific community.GWAS have identified several pathways involved in the interactions among general risk factors and genomic variants affecting SCCHN.This systematic overview aims to critically evaluate the latest data reported within the scientific literature.The aim was to investigate the impact of genetic aspects on SCCHN onset and prognosis,involving other clinical and systemic co-factors.PubMed,Google Scholar,and Cancer Genetics Web databases have been systematically investigated for original articles published in the last two years,reporting studies on the main queries addressed in this work.This review also comparatively describes the impact of environmental and pathological co-factors in different types of cancers,clarifying and updating the role of genetic factors in SCCHN onset and development.The main outcomes reported may be helpful to drive clinicians towards their clinical evaluations for the most appropriate therapeutic approach in SCCHN.

Targeting head and neck tumoral stem cells： From biologicalaspects to therapeutic perspectives

Head and neck squamous cell cancer(HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world. Effective therapeutic modalities such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and combinations of each are used in the management of the disease. In most cases, treatment fails to obtain total cancer cure. In recent years, it appears that one of the key determinants of treatment failure may be the presence of cancer stem cells(CSCs) that escape currently available therapies. CSCs form a small portion of the total tumor burden but may play a disproportionately important role in determining outcomes. CSCs have stem features such as self-renewal, high migration capacity, drug resistance, high proliferation abilities. A large body of evidence points to the fact that CSCs are particularly resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In HNSCC, CSCs have been increasingly shown to have an integral role in tumor initiation, disease progression, metastasis and treatment resistance. In the light of such observations, the present review summarizes biological characteristics of CSCs in HNSCC, outlines targeted strategies for the successful eradication of CSCs in HNSCC including targeting the self-renewal controlling pathways, blocking epithelial mesenchymal transition, niche targeting, immunotherapy approaches and highlights the need to better understand CSCs biology for new treatments modalities.

COVID-19 and oral cancer:Critical viewpoint

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) has marked the beginning of a new pandemic named coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19). The World Health Organization has announced it as a health emergency that is of international concern. The disease has been reported to cause respiratory illness, pneumonia and even hinder the immunity of an individual. Individuals with disturbed immune responses have been found to be quite susceptible to this viral infection. Oral cancer patients are also at high risk in this pandemic situation and might encounter severe detrimental outcomes. Angiotensin receptors, documented in studies as the path of entry of this virus, are highly expressed in the epithelial cells of oral mucosa, making the group of individuals with oral cancers even more vulnerable. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer is another potential target for SARS-CoV-2. An exhaustion of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 cell receptors leads to protumoral effects, whereas a downregulation of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer leads to antitumoral effects. Thus, it causes a variation of the biological behavior of the tumor. This article focusses on the molecular mechanisms, effects and pathophysiology of COVID-19 in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. The different molecular changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma in the background of COVID-19 will modify various environmental factors for this pathology and have an effect on the carcinogenesis process. Understanding the behavior of the tumor will help plan advanced treatment strategies for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in the background of COVID-19.

An Overview and Comparative Evaluation of Head and Neck Cancer Risk Factors in India and Australia

Aim: An overview and comparative evaluation of head and neck cancer risk factors in India and Australia. Method: In this review we included articles with information on head and neck cancer risk factors and its association based on: smoking tobacco, alcohol, smokeless tobacco, betel nut and areca nut chewing, viral infection like HPV, dental hygiene, diet, family history, socioeconomic status, other heavy metals and systemic conditions. Articles with clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were excluded. Results: Head and neck cancer in India has different demographic, risk factors, dietary habits, personal and family history. Oral cancer is more common amongst all head and neck squamous cell cancers in males. This is mainly attributed with consumption of a variety of smokeless tobacco, smoking, alcohol, poverty, illiteracy, cultural, advanced stage at presentation;lack of good treatment infrastructure creates main challenge to India as compared to Australia. Conclusion: The knowledge about risk factors for HNC in public health education for general population supports health promotion and tobacco prevention, which is the main aim of the programs started by the government, as head and neck cancers are potentially preventable.

A Six-Year Review of Head and Neck Cancers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Background: In Ghana, information on the prevalence and pattern of Head and Neck Cancers (HNCA) is scarce. There are few publications based on specific sub-sites of the head and neck, however, literature on the prevalence and pattern of HNCA in general is lacking. The present study aimed to describe the pattern of HNCA among patients seen at the multidisciplinary HNCA clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Methods: This is a retrospective review of all consecutive patient records seen at the multidisciplinary clinic from 2004 to 2009. Results: There were 149 males and 103 females giving a male to female ratio of 1.45:1. The age range was 2 - 95 years with a mean of 48.1 years. The commonest type of HNCA in this review is cancers of the oral cavity (29.4%), followed by accessory sinuses (13.9%) and larynx (13.5%). Nasopharyngeal cancer affected young people, with 34.5% of affected patients aged between 10 and 19 years. The commonest histopathological type was squamous cell carcinoma (49.6%). Majority (47.6%) of patients presented at stage IV. Conclusion: The commonest HNCA is oral cancer. Majority of patients with HNCA are presenting late calling for public health education to raise awareness and promote early detection.

Novel insights on oral squamous cell carcinoma management using long non-coding RNAs

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is one of the most prevalent forms of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas(HNSCC)with a poor overall survival rate(about 50%),particularly in cases of metastasis.RNA-based cancer biomarkers are a relatively advanced concept,and non-coding RNAs currently have shown promising roles in the detection and treatment of various malignancies.This review underlines the function of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)in the OSCC and its subsequent clinical implications.LncRNAs,a class of non-coding RNAs,are larger than 200 nucleotides and resemble mRNA in numerous ways.However,unlike mRNA,lncRNA regulates multiple druggable and non-druggable signaling molecules through simultaneous interaction with DNA,RNA,proteins,or microRNAs depending on concentration and localization in cells.Upregulation of oncogenic lncRNAs and downregulation of tumor suppressor lncRNAs are evident in OSCC tissues and body fluids such as blood and saliva indicating their potential as valuable biomarkers.Targeted inhibition of candidate oncogenic lncRNAs or overexpression of tumor suppressor lncRNAs showed potential therapeutic roles in in-vivo animal models.The types of lncRNAs that are expressed differentially in OSCC tissue and bodily fluids have been systematically documented with specificity and sensitivity.This review thoroughly discusses the biological functions of such lncRNAs in OSCC cell survival,proliferation,invasion,migration,metastasis,angiogenesis,metabolism,epigenetic modification,tumor immune microenvironment,and drug resistance.Subsequently,we addressed the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of lncRNAs in OSCC pre-clinical and clinical systems,providing details on ongoing research and outlining potential future directions for advancements in this field.In essence,this review could be a valuable resource by offering comprehensive and current insights into lncRNAs in OSCC for researchers in fundamental and clinical domains.

PGRMC1 Elevation in Multiple Cancers and Essential Role in Stem Cell Survival

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in America, and there is an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. The progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is a cytochrome b5 related protein that binds heme and is associated with signaling, apoptotic suppression and autophagy. PGRMC1 is essential for tumor formation, invasion and metastasis, and is upregulated in breast, colon, lung and thyroid tumors. In the present study, we have analyzed PGRMC1 levels in over 600 tumor sections, including a larger cohort of lung tumors than in previous studies, and report the first clinical analysis of PGRMC1 levels in human oral cavity and ovarian tumors compared to corresponding nonmalignant tissues. PGRMC1 was highly expressed in lung and ovarian cancers and correlated with patient survival. PGRMC1 has been previously associated with drug resistance, a characteristic of cancer stem cells. The stem cell theory proposes that a subset of cancerous stem cells contribute to drug resistance and tumor maintenance, and PGRMC1 was detected in lung-tumor derived stem cells. Drug treatment with a PGRMC1 inhibitor, AG-205, triggered stem cell death whereas treatment with erlotinib and the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, did not, suggesting a specific role for PGRMC1 in cancer stem cell viability. Together, our data demonstrate PGRMC1 as a potential tumor biomarker across a variety of tumors, as well as a therapeutic target for cancer stem cells.

An Analysis of the Potential Benefits of Metformin on Disease Recurrence in Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective: Diabetes mellitus type 2 has been associated with increased cancer risk and cancer related mortality. Metformin, one of the most widely used anti-diabetic medications, has been found to have important anticancer properties in addition to hypoglycemic effects. The effects of metformin on clinical outcomes in oral cavity (OC) and oropharyngeal (OP) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have not been thoroughly analyzed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of metformin use on cancer recurrence in diabetic patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: Academic tertiary medical center. Patients: Seventy-seven patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and oral cavity or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were treated and followed at our tertiary academic institution and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System from 1998 to 2012. Main Outcome Measure: Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to determine if metformin has an effect on disease recurrence after primary cancer treatment. Results: Metformin does not appear to have a significant effect on disease recurrence in patients with OC/OP SCC and diabetes mellitus type 2 (p = 0.53). Even when including only patients with stage I or II disease, metformin still did not decrease recurrence (p = 0.60). Conclusion: Herein, our data suggest that metformin use does not significantly impact time until recurrence for diabetic patients with OC/OP SCC.

三联互补强化教育对头颈部肿瘤放疗患者口腔功能锻炼情况及生活质量的影响

目的探讨三联互补强化教育对头颈部肿瘤放疗患者口腔功能锻炼情况及生活质量的影响。方法选择2021年2月至2022年8月于九江市第一人民医院接受放疗的70例头颈部肿瘤患者作为研究对象,按随机数字表法分为对照组(35例)与观察组(35例)。对照组接受常规护理,观察组接受三联互补强化教育。比较两组的口腔功能锻炼情况、生活质量与并发症发生率。结果干预后,观察组的口腔功能锻炼精确性量表的动作评价与知识口述分值均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。干预后,观察组的生活质量综合评定问卷-74(GQOL-74)量表生理功能、社会功能、躯体功能及物质生活状态的各维度分值均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组的并发症总发生率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论针对头颈部肿瘤放疗患者采取三联互补强化教育干预措施,可明显提升患者口腔功能锻炼的精确度,提升生活质量,还可降低相关并发症的发生风险。

头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理方案的构建

目的:构建头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理方案。方法:系统检索头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理相关指南、专家共识、系统评价等,对证据提取整合,经研究小组讨论后制订头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理方案初稿。召开专家小组会议,结合专家意见进一步讨论修改,形成最终的头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理方案。结果:头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理方案包括营养筛查与评估、营养供给量、营养支持、营养随访、运动干预5个一级条目、17个二级条目、40个三级条目,其中28个三级条目为A级推荐,12个三级条目为B级推荐。结论:本研究构建的头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理方案具有科学性与针对性,可为今后开展头颈癌放射性口腔黏膜炎病人营养管理实践提供参考。

数字化口腔定位支架在头颈部肿瘤放射治疗中的应用现状

在放射治疗中,由于射线不可避免地对正常细胞产生辐射作用,头颈部肿瘤患者常会发生严重的口腔并发症,例如:放射治疗诱发性口腔黏膜炎、张口困难、吞咽困难、放射性颌骨坏死和放射性龋病等。这些并发症会影响甚至中断放射治疗的进行,对放射治疗后患者的生活质量造成难以估量的影响。为减小放射治疗带来不利影响,近年来,国内外学者对口腔定位支架(OPS)开展了广泛的研究,其中传统型OPS对一些口腔并发症的预防起到明显的作用,但其在设计制作以及推广应用上存在一些不足,数字化OPS的研究应运而生。本文主要对数字化OPS的设计制作方法、口腔并发症的预防以及放射治疗摆位的影响进行总结分析,对其应用前景进行了展望。

苯扎氯铵稀释液漱口对头颈部肿瘤放疗患者口腔黏膜炎发生的影响

目的 探讨苯扎氯铵稀释液漱口对头颈部肿瘤(HNC)放疗患者口腔黏膜炎(OM)发生的影响。方法 选择2021年1月—2022年12月本院收治的82例HNC放疗患者作为研究对象,随机数表法分为观察组和对照组两组,每组各41例。对照组采用生理盐水漱口液漱口,观察组采用苯扎氯铵稀释液漱口。比例两组OM发生率及严重程度、OM出现所需时间、疼痛程度、生活质量、营养指标、抗菌药物使用时间及接受抗生素治疗例数。结果 观察组OM发生率及严重程度均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组OM出现所需时间长于对照组,放疗2周、放疗结束时视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组放疗结束时生活质量综合评定问卷(GQOLI-74)各维度评分及总分高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组放疗结束体重、体质量指数(BMI)、血红蛋白(Hb)、白蛋白(ALB)水平均低于放疗前,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组放疗结束体重、BMI、Hb及ALB水平高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组抗菌药物使用时间短于对照组,接受抗生素治疗患者占比少于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 采用苯扎氯铵稀释液漱口防治OM效果良好,有利于降低HNC放疗患者OM发生率,减轻患者疼痛程度及OM严重程度,延缓OM的发生,改善营养指标,减少抗菌药物使用率,缩短抗菌药物使用时间,提高患者生活质量,可为HNC放疗患者OM的防治提供指导。

头颈癌放疗患者中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值的变化轨迹与重度放射性口腔黏膜炎的风险研究

目的 识别头颈癌(head and neck cancer,HNC)患者放疗期间中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio,NLR)的变化轨迹,分析NLR的变化轨迹与重度放射性口腔黏膜炎(radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis,RIOM)之间的关系。方法 采用回顾性纵向研究设计,选取2022年7月至2023年8月在中南大学湘雅医院收治的180例接受放疗的HNC患者作为研究对象。分别在放疗前(T0)、放疗开始后1周(T1)、放疗开始后2周(T2)、放疗开始后3周(T3)、放疗开始后4周(T4)、放疗开始后5周(T5)和放疗开始后6周(T6)收集HNC放疗患者的中性粒细胞计数和淋巴细胞计数,并计算7个时间点的NLR。使用潜类增长模型和增长混合模型识别最佳的NLR轨迹亚组,采用Logistic回归分析判断NLR的轨迹亚组与重度RIOM之间的关系。结果 NLR变化轨迹存在基线低水平-快速增长组(Class-1组)和基线高水平-快速增长组(Class-2组)2个潜在亚组。Logistic回归分析显示,Class-2组发生重度RIOM的危险性是Class-1组的3.67倍。在控制混杂因素的干扰后,NLR轨迹亚组仍是发生重度RIOM的危险因素,且重度RIOM发生风险从3.67倍增加到27.0倍。结论 NLR能够作为预测重度RIOM的生物标志物。NLR较高的人群发生重度RIOM的风险更高。

多学科综合治疗新模式下口腔癌放射治疗的进展与挑战

口腔癌是头颈颌面部位中最常见的肿瘤之一,在中国仅次于鼻咽癌位居头颈部恶性肿瘤的第2位。50%以上的口腔癌患者初诊时已处于局部晚期,或已发生远处转移。依据患者分期,基于手术、放疗、化疗、免疫治疗和靶向治疗的多学科治疗方案是目前口腔癌的治疗标准。虽然治疗模式多样,但口腔癌2/5年总生存率仍然较低,不能满足临床需求,亟需探索更加有效的综合治疗方案来改善口腔癌的整体预后。本文对近年来口腔癌多学科综合治疗新模式以及该新模式下口腔癌的放射治疗进展进行综述。

2003—2012年上海市头颈部恶性肿瘤发病特征分析

背景与目的:全球范围内头颈部恶性肿瘤发病较为常见。该研究描述了2003—2012年上海市头颈部恶性肿瘤的主要发病特征及其变化,为探寻病因学研究线索,制定和评估相关癌症预防、研究与控制的规划和措施提供依据。方法:根据上海市恶性肿瘤患者报告登记系统收集的唇、口腔和咽的恶性肿瘤发病资料,描述2003—2012年的发病概况、性别和年龄分布;对诊断依据、病理类型及诊断时期别等诊断特征进行具体描述,并分析前后5年的变化。结果:2003—2012年,上海全市年均新诊断头颈部恶性肿瘤患者1 105例,占所有部位恶性肿瘤的2.08%,发病率为8.01/10万,标化发病率为4.45/10万,鼻咽癌患者数最多,占50.81%。男性发病率和标化发病率均大于女性。病理诊断比例达到85.77%,病理组织学类型以鳞癌为主,占57.58%。鼻咽癌标化发病率呈现下降趋势。结论:近10年上海头颈部恶性肿瘤发病率较低,男性比女性多发,病理组织学类型以鳞癌为主。鼻咽癌患者约占一半,且发病集中的年龄较年轻,诊断时期别相对较晚。

口含冰对恶性肿瘤患者头颈部放疗后防治口腔黏膜炎的临床研究

目的探讨口含冰防治恶性肿瘤患者头颈部放疗(以下简称头颈部放疗)后所致口腔黏膜炎的效果。方法将68例放疗患者分为对照组(35例)和实验组(33例)。对照组在整个放疗期间进行常规口腔护理,实验组除常规口腔护理外,从放疗开始每天于放疗后预防性予口含冰:即口含生理盐水冻制而成的2 cm×2 cm×2 cm大小的冰块。每天含两次,每次连续含冰约6～8块,持续约30 min,两次间隔30 min,至放疗结束。结果首次放疗至30 Gy时及剂量大于30 Gy至放疗结束时,两组疗效比较差异有显著意义(P<0.05)。实验组较对照组口腔黏膜炎的发生率降低,重度发生例数减少;实验组有两例患者由重度转化为轻度,且未发生不良反应;首次发生口腔黏膜炎的平均时间实验组也较对照组延迟1周左右。结论口含冰可用于防治放疗后发生放射性口腔黏膜炎,降低发生率,减轻黏膜炎严重程度,延迟其发生时间,延缓其进展。