Pathogenesis of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis and Prevention and Treatment in TCM and Modern Medicine: A Literature Review

Radio-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) is one of the serious complications of patients with malignant tumors undergoing comprehensive radiationtherapy (RT). The incidence of head and neck cancer patients is almost 100%. The main symptoms include: severe local oral inflammation， dysphagia， eating less， and secondary infection. The pathogenesis of RIOM in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is based on "heat-toxicity injuries yin". However， it has not been clarified in modern medicine， probably due to oral glands damage and vascular endothelial cell injury. Current treatment measures are aimed at providing nutrition， controlling pain， and preventing secondary infections.