METHOD FOR PREDICTING ORAL AND PHARYNGEAL MUCOUS MEMBRANE RESPONSE SEVERITY DEGREE CAUSED BY MALIGNANT NEOPLASM RADIATION- OR CHEMORADIATION THERAPY APPLIED IN OROPHARYNGEAL REGION

FIELD: medicine. ^ SUBSTANCE: method involves daily carrying out clinical estimation of oral mucous membrane state until the first clinical signs of radiation response are observed. Mucous membrane examination is repeated by applying optical coherent tomography method at the day the signs have been observed. The obtained optical coherent tomography image is compared to one produced before irradiation. Mucositis of III-IV degree is predicted when finding that boundary separating epithelium and underlying connective tissue has vanished. Mucositis of I-II degree is predicted when the boundary remains available. Clinical estimation of mucous membrane condition is carried out according to CTCAE classification. the first clinical signs of oral cavity mucous membrane radiation response become usually observable at the sixth or ninth irradiation day. Oral cavity mucous membrane is studied by applying optical coherent tomography method to any buccal mucous membrane point belonging to irradiation zone, with both studies being carried out at the same point. The point is preferentially selected on in the middle of the line connecting mouth angle and orifice of excretory duct of salivary gland. ^ EFFECT: high accuracy of prognosis. ^ 6 dwg, 2 tbl