Intralesional corticosteroid therapy for non-healing persistent radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis

Oropharyngeal mucositis is a common complication of anticancer therapy. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of intralesional corticosteroid therapy (ICT) in the management of persistent mucositis.

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent ICT in the oral cavity to manage oral mucositis managed with basic oral care and preventive modalities and persisting at least 6 weeks after head and neck radiation or chemoradiation therapy completion between November 2017 and September 2023 was performed. Bio-demographic data, cancer and anticancer therapy characteristics, medical history, and mucositis-related variables were extracted from electronic medical records.

Among the 34 participants, 22 (64.7%) were male. Twenty (58.8%) participants received radiotherapy; the rest received chemoradiation therapy. Before the ICT, the median mucositis lesion surface area was 225 mm² (range 9–2025 mm²), and 22 (64.7%) patients had grade III mucositis. Post-intervention, the median size was reduced to 0 mm² (range 0–1600 mm²). Clinically effective response (≥ 75% size and symptom reduction) was observed in 28 (82.4%) participants over a median of 26 days (7–60 days). Within this cohort, complete healing of the lesion was seen in 18 (64.3%) subjects. Overall, 25 (73.5%) participants experienced a downgradation in the mucositis stage. Local complications from injections were found in two (5.7%) participants. A correlation was found between clinically effective relief and absence of trismus (p = .03) and smaller pre-procedure surface area (p = .009).

The ICT represents a viable option in managing non-healing, persistent radiation, and chemoradiation-induced oral mucositis. The modality was well tolerated and had no systemic complications.