[How I treat...oropharyngeal mucositis associated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer].

Oral mucositis the major acute effect of head and neck radiotherapy. According to the degree, irradiation may be compromised in dose and overall time with consequences on outcome. Up to now there is no standard accepted protocol. A strict program of local and general hygiene is mandatory. Analgesics are often required. Amifostine acts as a protector of salivary glands GM-CSF and G-CSF stimulate proliferation of mucosal basal cells. Sucralfate plays a barrier role. Camomile plant extract is anti-inflammatory, well tolerated and cheap. Povidone-iodine is better than chlorhexidine as an antiseptic agent. PTA lozenges with polymixin E, tobramycin and amphotericin B showed a marked power of selective microbial decontamination.