Radiation-related superficial oral mucoceles: An under-recognized acute toxicity in head and neck cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Acute toxicity is usually defined as adverse changes occurring immediately or a short time after the start of oncological treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective study performed with head and neck cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy from 2013 to 2016. RESULTS: Ten (1.2%) patients developed SOMs during radiotherapy, most (80%) of which were men with a mean age of 59.5 years at diagnosis. SOMs mainly affected the floor of the mouth (60%) between the fourth and the sixth weeks of radiation therapy. All lesions were asymptomatic and spontaneously ruptured approximately 9 days after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, SOMs may be regarded as an acute oral toxicity of head and neck radiotherapy. Key words:Superficial oral mucoceles; head and neck cancer; radiation toxicity, acute toxicity.