Grade 1 Mucositis

Mucositis is inflammation of the mucus membrane, often in the oral cavity, and is common among cancer patients. There are two grading scales that nurses use to classify mucositis, but these scales employ a comparable system to rate severity.

Definition

• According to the National Cancer Institute scale, Grade 1 mucositis means that the area may be red and accompanied by little or no pain. The area may or may not be ulcerated. The World Health Organization calls it a Grade 1 mucositis when there is soreness with or without redness, and no ulceration present. Mucositis commonly occurs in the mouth but can affect the whole digestive tract.

Presentation

• The Western Consortium of Cancer Nursing Research has created a scale for judging the presence of mucositis. If there are between one and four lesions with slight redness but no bleeding, this would indicate a Grade 1 presentation of mucositis.

Cause

• Mucositis occurs when treating cancer patients. Chemotherapy and radiation are the main causes. These treatments destroy all cells, not just cancer cells, and cause the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract to break down. Bone marrow transplants and other cancer treatments may also cause mucositis.

Treatment

• Proper diet and hygiene can aid in healing mucositis lesions, as can some medications. Treatment of resulting complications may be necessary, although these may not occur with a low-grade mucositis. Infections are possible if the lesion is open.

Time Frame

• If no infection is present, mucositis may heal within a couple weeks or a month if the patient is undergoing chemotherapy. In patients receiving radiation, however, it can be significantly longer, from six to eight weeks. Grade 1 lesions heal much more quickly than more advanced ones.