Factors Of Oral Infection In Elderly Patients With Head And Neck Radiotherapy For Malignant Lymphoma

Background andObjective:Malignant lymphoma is a malignant tumor of primary in the lymph nodes or extranodal tissue or organ. According to the clinical and pathological characteristics, it is divided into two major categories:Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Malignant lymphomas represent approximately 5% of all malignant neoplasms of the head and neck area.The main pathological types of malignant lymphoma in the elderly patients with head and neck are non Hodgkin’slymphoma.The main treatment method of non Hodgkin lymphoma in elderly patients with head and neck is radiotherapy, chemotherapy and Monoclonal antibodytargeted therapy. Because of the complex anatomic structure of the head and neck, radiotherapy has occupied an important position, and it is an important part of the treatment.There are some side effects of radiotherapy. One of the early common adverse reactions are acute radiation stomatitis, in some cases with bacterial or fungal infections, anti-infection treatment is needed.Oral infection is not only to increase the risk of treatment, influence the normal diet, prolong the treatment time, but also affect the prognosis of patients, by the timing and effect of cancer treatment.If handled improperly, the infection worsened, leading to sepsis, some serious patients may even lead to death.The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors relating to oral infection in elderly patients treated with head and neck radiotherapy for malignant lymphoma, and to provide the clinical basis for the prevention and treatment of oral infections.Subjects andMethods:A total of 117 patients treated with head and neck radiotherapy for malignant lymphomafrom March 2007 to November 2014 were enrolled. The factors relating to oral infection after head and neck radiation therapy were analyzed.Results:Totally30 patients (25.64%.30/117)had oral infections. The single-factor analysis showed that education degree,occupation,cancer staging, oral self-cleaning, oral environment, chemotherapy,diabetes, irrational use of antibiotics were the important factors relating to oral infections (x2=11.444、6.702、8.406、6.25、5.658、3.029、 8.001、11.785, P<0.05).The incidence of oral infection had no significant differences in male and female patients,hypertension, drinking history and the use of oral mucosal protective agent.Multivariate analysis showed that chemotherapy and irrational use of antibiotics were closely related to the occurrence of oral infections.Conclusions:There are many factors relating to oral infection in elderly patients treated with head and neck radiotherapy for malignant. The single-factor analysis showed that education degree,occupation,cancer staging, oral self-cleaning, oral environment, chemotherapy,diabetes, irrational use of antibiotics were the important factors relating to oral infections.Multivariate analysis showed that chemotherapy and irrational use of antibiotics were closely related to the occurrence of oral infections.