The changes of salivary microorganism composition after therapeutic radiation for oral cancer patients

ABSTRACT

The changes of the microorganism composition after therapeutic radiation for oral cancer patients are not well known and the long-term follow-up data are not reported. To obtain basic data for understanding of pathogenesis and prevention and treatment of dental caries and mucositis occuring after radiation therapy, 7 of the oral cancer patients presented at the Seoul National University Oral & Maxillofacial Department between 1997 and 1998 whose treatment plan included radiation therapy were recruited to investigate the changes in bacterial composition(total aerobic count, candida, Staphylococci, lactobacilli, S. mutans, and S. salivarius (mitis, sanguis)) of the saliva before, during, and after radiation therapy. The basic data obtained from this study on identification and composition change of the bacteria in saliva of patients treated with radiation therapy can be used (1) as a reference for deciding on the ideal anti-microbial spectrum of the oral rinsing agent to be used in patients treated with radiation therapy for malignant tumor of the head and neck region. (2) to enhance the understanding of increase of opportunistic infection after immunochemical changes of the saliva and its relation to specific bacterial infection. (3) as a reference in prescribing prophylactic antibiotics in immunodepressed patients after radiation therapy.