Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

7 questions · 10 findings · 4 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 8 · 80%Very low 1 · 10%Low 1 · 10%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Pilocarpine vs no treatment/placebo

Other oral related symptoms (oral discomfort, eating difficulty, mucosal pain, oral complications) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of RT
Insufficient evidence of a difference: oral discomfort MD -18.00 (95% CI -37.41 to 1.41); eating difficulties MD -14.40 (95% CI -35.38 to 6.58); mucosal pain MD -14.80 (95% CI -37.07 to 7.47); oral complications RR…
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs no intervention or control intervention (control)

Oral pain · All patients with cancer who are receiving treatment

3 findings from 1 review

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
Radiotherapy to the head and neck
Oral pain was assessed in this subgroup but the study (Kakoei 2013) did not report details of the scale used, so the data could not be used (no usable estimate).
1 study
GRADE not reported
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers
MD -1.93 [-2.37, -1.49]
1 study · 80 participants
Very low
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
High-dose melphalan-based treatment prior to HSCT (haematological cancers)
MD -1.5 [-2.11, -0.89]
2 studies · 85 participants
Low

Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse

Oral pain · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Polaprezinc led to lower oral pain (severe, > 2 on 0-3 scale) compared with azulene oral rinse; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Over RT period
RR 0.36 [0.17, 0.77]
1 study · 31 participants
GRADE not reported

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs placebo

Oral pain · Adults with cancer receiving treatment

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin),… showed no clear difference in oral pain (mean worst pain, 0 to 10 scale) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
BMT/SCT after conditioning for haematological cancers
MD -0.85 [-3.00, 1.30]
1 study · 42 participants
GRADE not reported
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
RT to head and neck with cisplatin/fluorouracil
MD -0.12 [-0.27, 0.02]
2 studies · 374 participants
GRADE not reported

GM-CSF vs placebo or no treatment

Oral pain · Adults with cancer receiving treatment

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) showed no clear difference in oral pain (mean pain score, 0 to 10 scale) compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and growth factors 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
BMT/SCT after conditioning for haematological cancers
MD 0.60 [-0.85, 2.05]
1 study · 90 participants
GRADE not reported

Lycopene plus intralesional betamethasone vs placebo

Severity of oral/mucosal burning pain/sensation · People of any age with a confirmed diagnosis, by clinical examination and biopsy, of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF)

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
Kumar 2007 reported burning sensation using a non-validated scale; not included in quantitative analysis.
1 study
GRADE not reported

Pentoxifylline vs multivitamin and mineral supplement

Severity of oral/mucosal burning pain/sensation · People of any age with a confirmed diagnosis, by clinical examination and biopsy, of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF)

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
Rajendran 2006 concluded the intervention reduced pain, but pain intensity evaluations were inadequately defined and from interview data, making mean scores difficult to interpret.
1 study · 29 participants
GRADE not reported