Analysis Of Risk Factors Of RTOM In Patients With HNC

This study aimed to identify risk factors for radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (RTOM) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and to provide a theoretical basis for the further study of early prediction and prevention strategies of RTOM. A prospective study included 134 IMRT-treated HNC patients in 2024 (143 screened, 9 excluded). Sixteen variables with limited consensus or understudied associations were analyzed, comprising patient-related factors and treatment-related parameters. Weekly evaluations documented RTOM incidence, onset timing, grade, and anatomical distribution. Statistical associations were assessed via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses using SPSS 28.0. The incidence of RTOM was 79.9% (107/134), with earliest onset at week 2 (T2), median at T4, and peak incidence (35.5%) at T3. Common sites included buccal mucosa (29.5%), palate (25.0%), and tongue (17.4%). 57.0% of initial cases were grade 2. Univariate analysis identified tumor site, oral hygiene index (OHI), and tumor characteristics, cumulative mean oral radiation dose (Dmean) (p<0.05) as significant, while Cumulative oral radiation Dmean (OR=1.105, 95%CI:1.016-1.203, p=0.020), with tumor site and OHI showing no significance. High RTOM incidence (79.9%) in IMRT-treated HNC patients is strongly linked to cumulative oral radiation Dmean. Tumor site and oral hygiene may synergistically influence RTOM development, emphasizing the need for dose optimization and integrated oral care protocols.