The oral cavity is a complex environment composed of tissueswith different origins, structures, and functions. Moreover,a myriad of commensal bacteria, fungi, and viruses populatethe mucosa, connective tissue, salivary glands, taste buds,bones, and teeth of the mouth. This environment is disruptedin oral mucositis (Figure 1), a serious complication of high-dosechemoradiotherapy that affects up to 75 percent of patientswho undergo hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation1 and 77percent of patients with head and neck cancer who receive suchtreatment.2
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Figure 1. Oral Mucositis after Chemoradiotherapy in a Patient with Leukemia, Who Was Later Treated with Bone Marrow . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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From the Oral Medicine Department, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Palifermin and Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis
Awada A., Genot M.-T., Klastersky J., Köstler W. J., Hejna M., Zielinski C. C., Palmieri C., Vigushin D., Spielberger R., Stiff P., Bensinger W.
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N Engl J Med 2005;
352:1264-1265, Mar 24, 2005.
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[Abstract][Full Text]
Awada, A., Genot, M.-T., Klastersky, J., Kostler, W. J., Hejna, M., Zielinski, C. C., Palmieri, C., Vigushin, D., Spielberger, R., Stiff, P., Bensinger, W.
(2005). Palifermin and Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis. NEJM
352: 1264-1265
[Full Text]