What are the symptoms of mucositis?

Oral mucosa is the most important skin tissue for people. Although the thickness of oral mucosa is very thin, it can block most bacteria and viruses from invading oral skin tissue, providing basic protection for people's health. However, the oral mucosa is also prone to disease symptoms, which may cause certain damage and threats to health. Mucositis is one of the more common symptoms. So, what are the symptoms of mucositis?

Clinical manifestations:

The severity of the damage varies depending on the radiation source, radiation dose, exposure time, irradiation method and individual tolerance. Mucosal changes within a short period of time after radiation exposure are called "acute damage", and symptoms that appear more than 2 years after radiation are called "chronic damage.

1. Acute radiation mucositis:

Generally, after 10Gy irradiation, the mucosa will become red and edematous; after 20Gy irradiation, the mucosal congestion will be more obvious, and it will be covered with a yellow-white pseudomembrane, which will bleed easily and be extremely tender; after 30Gy irradiation, the mucosal edema will decrease, but the covered pseudomembrane will be more obvious, and there will be a burning pain; after 50-70Gy or above irradiation, there will be atrophy of the lingual papillae, atrophy of the salivary glands, dry mouth, mucosal pain, taste disorders, and burning pain of the tongue, and these symptoms are often irreversible. The soft palate, lips, and buccal mucosa are more sensitive to radiation, so the reaction is more severe, and ulcers often occur on the basis of stomatitis. The damage to the dorsum of the tongue and hard palate mucosa is relatively mild, and ulcers rarely occur. Systemic symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and insomnia. Gingival bleeding, nose bleeding, and hemoptysis are often caused by thrombocytopenia, while leukocytopenia causes secondary infection and hemorrhagic necrotic oral ulcers.

2. Chronic radiation mucositis:

The main symptoms of chronic radiation mucositis are salivary gland atrophy and dry mouth. The dorsum of the tongue becomes smooth and red due to atrophy of the lingual papillae, and there may be abnormal taste. Some cases may be complicated by Candida albicans infection, with white snowflake-like plaques appearing on the back of the tongue, or oral diseases such as bleeding gums and periodontitis. Patients have systemic symptoms such as lack of appetite, fatigue, headache, memory loss, and insomnia. Skin changes such as dryness, hair loss, pigmentation, and bleeding spots are common.