ArticleBMC oral health2021
An underestimated pitfall of oral candidiasis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: an observation study.
Article in BMC oral health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC oral health · 2025Pooled it
- Prevention of HNSCC by chewing gum delivery of enzymes/antimicrobials to reduce carcinogenic acetaldehyde produced by pathogenic microbes.Molecular therapy. Oncology · 2026Article
- Article
- The roles of salivary secretory IgA on the development of oral candidiasis.Frontiers in oral health · 2026Review
- Evaluation of Candida Species Colonization and Fungal Susceptibility Profile in the Oropharyngeal Mucosa of Patients Receiving Head and Neck Radiotherapy.TheScientificWorldJournal · 2026Article
- Article
- Oropharyngeal candidiasis during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: an observational study on prevalence, pain, and risk factors.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025Observational
- Expression of mannanase and glucanases in lettuce chloroplasts and functional evaluation of enzyme cocktail against Candida albicans in oral cancer patient samples.Plant biotechnology journal · 2025Article
- Review
- Prevalence and drug susceptibility of clinicalOne health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2024Article
- Personalized Medicine in Oral Oncology: Imaging Methods and Biological Markers to Support Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC): A Narrative Literature Review.Journal of personalized medicine · 2023Review
- Identification and susceptibility testing of oral candidiasis in advanced cancer patients.BMC oral health · 2023Observational
- Evaluation of oral mucositis, candidiasis, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer treated with a hypofractionated or conventional radiotherapy protocol: a longitudinal, prospective, observational study.Head & face medicine · 2023Article
- Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundOral candidiasis is a common problem associated with head and neck radiation therapy (RT) consequences being pain, burning sensation, taste change, and systemic infection. There are difficulties in differentiating between oral candidiasis and radiation induced oral mucositis. We conducted a prospective study to explore the incidence of clinical oral candidiasis and evaluate the accuracy of diagnosis among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving RT or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).
methodsThis study included 86 HNC patients who had no clinical signs or symptoms of oral candidiasis. Oral mucosa and tongue swabs were carried out and analyzed three times by fungal cultures at the following time points: (1) before RT, (2) at the time of clinically diagnosed candidiasis or during RT at between the 15th-17th fraction (whichever occurred first), and (3) at the end of RT. The accuracy of clinical oral candidiasis was explored and confirmed by fungal colonization techniques. The incidence and risk factors associated with fungal colonization before and throughout the treatment were analyzed.
resultsThe overall incidence of clinical oral candidiasis was 53.5% throughout the course of RT. Confirmation of fungal colonization was found in 39.5%, 65.9%, and 57.7% of cases before RT, during RT, and end of RT, respectively. The accuracy of the diagnosis using only clinical presentation was demonstrated in 60%, 50%, and 52% before RT, during RT, and end of RT, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, CCRT, and using 2% viscous lidocaine solution were independent risk factors for fungal colonization.
conclusionsThe results of this study demonstrated an underestimation of clinical oral candidiasis before and throughout the course of radiotherapy from using only clinical sign and symptoms. Crucial attention to detail and testing in the oral examination could improve decision making for detection of oral candidiasis in HNC patients receiving RT or CCRT.
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