Clinical observations and relevant factors of acute skin and oral mucosal reactions in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing concurrent radiochemotherapy

Objective: To examine acute skin and oral mucosal reactions and identify their major influencing factors in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing concurrent radiochemotherapy. Methods: The study enrolled 85 NPC patients who were treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy. Fifteen clinical and laboratory indices were examined, including blood mass index (BMI), weekly radiation dose, degree of acute oral mucosal and neck skin reactions, and blood routine test. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the major influencing factors and identify the independent risk factors. Results: The risk factors closely related to the occurrence of acute radiation oral mucosal reactions were smoking (OR = 3.467, P < 0.05) and single dose for gross tumor volume > 2.15 Gy (OR = 3.393, P < 0.05), while those closely related to the occurrence of acute radiation skin reactions were diabetes mellitus (OR = 87.859, P < 0.05) and hemoglobin level one-week before radiotherapy > 130 g/L (OR = 21.404, P < 0.05). Conclusions: In NPC patients undergoing concurrent radiochemotherapy, smoking and single dose for gross tumor volume (GTVnx) are independent risk factors for acute radiationoral mucosal reactions, while diabetes mellitus and hemoglobin values one-week before radiotherapy are independent factors for acute radiation skin reactions.