Relationship between oral mucositis and the oral bacterial count in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing carbon ion radiotherapy: A prospective study.

Background And Purpose: Acute adverse events, such as oral mucositis, can affect treatment success in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between oral mucositis and oral bacterial counts during carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) in patients with head and neck cancer.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study included patients with head and neck tumors treated with C-ion RT between 2017 and 2019.