Issues in symptom control. Part 4. Oral complications in patients with advanced cancer.

Disturbances caused by lesions of the oral cavity play an important part in the alteration of the quality of life of cancer patients. The main complications affecting the oral cavity are infections (fungal, viral, bacterial), neutropenic ulcers, drug-induced stomatitis, dry mouth, and taste alteration. Most of the information available about these entities has been acquired in the cancer patient without advanced disease. The little knowledge about the epidemiology and physiopathology of such lesions in the advanced phase of cancer is presented, and approaches to management are suggested.