Recently, the palliative care team (PCT) at our hospital has included dentists. Among a total of 127 cancer patientsand required PCT intervention from 2009 to 2014, 17 patients (13.3%) had oral symptoms. Therefore, the PCT held discussions in order to determine the optimal way to treat each patient. Various symptoms, including oral pain, dry mouth, taste disturbance, furred tongue, excessive amounts of saliva, appetite loss, and trismus were treated by the dentists. As a result, the oral findings improved in all patients, while the oral symptoms improved in 16 of the 17 patients (94%). Thanks to the fact that dentists have joined the PCT, oral symptoms are effectively relieved, and PCT members now have an increased interest in oral cavity complications. Furthermore, conducting thorough examinations of the oral cavity by the PCT not only results in an improved QOL, but it has also increased the interest in the oral cavity on the part of the PCT. Therefore, more effective palliative care is expected to be achieved by promoting increased cooperation with more clinical departments.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a metabolic disorder that is caused by acute lysis of massive tumor cells. We report a case with opioids-related severe respiratory depression induced by TLS. A 39-year-old man received chemotherapy for mycosis fungoides. Two hours after administration of chemotherapeutic agents, his renal function worsened, and he was diagnosed with TLS by laboratory and clinical findings. Moreover, he showed severe respiratory depression and pinpoint pupils, and become drowsy. These symptoms were attributed to oxycodone that had been administered to treat his tumor-related cutaneous pain, and were improved by injection of anti-opioids agent naloxone. In this case, we consider that the clearance of oxycodone was disrupted by renal dysfunction caused by TLS, leading to enhancement of the effects of oxycodone.