[Clinical evaluation of sodium alginate on oral mucositis associated with radiotherapy].

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of sodium alginate on 39 patients with oral mucositis associated with radiotherapy. Sodium alginate was administered during radiotherapy to 17 patients with head and neck cancer. Compared with 22 patients without administration, sodium alginate reduced the pain and the erosion of oral mucosa significantly. Consequently the interval of radiotherapy was shortened. It is, therefore, expected that the effect of radiotherapy improves by the administration of sodium alginate.