Abstract

POZZOBON, João Luiz; ORTIZ, Fernanda Ruffo; BRAUN, Katia  and  UNFER, Beatriz. Complications of oral treatment of head and neck cancer and hematologic malignancies. RFO UPF [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.3, pp. 342-346. ISSN 1413-4012.

Introduction: Patients with head and neck cancer or hematologic malignancies who receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy present oral complications as side effects of the treatment. The aim of this study was to identify major complications resulting from oral anticancer treatments with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and behaviors required to prevent and control these complications. Review of literature: The study consists of a literature review on the database PubMed/Medline that restored full articles which were published between 1999 and 2010 in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Five issues resulting from the anticancer treatment were identified: mucositis, xerostomia, candidiasis, radiation caries and osteoradionecrosis. The pipes were indicated before and during the treatment. The results show that most of the procedures were indicated during the treatment of cancer according to the type of complications presented. Final considerations: Good oral health status of patients submitted to anticancer treatment, before and during the treatment, is important to reduce the occurrence and severity of complications experienced. It is critical the early diagnosis of the changes, the correct management of behavior in all stages of treatment, performed in a multidisciplinary approach. All efforts should be directed so that the quality of life of these people before, during and after the treatment is the best as possible.

Keywords : Head and neck cancer.; Hematological malignancies.; Chemotherapy.; Radiotherapy.; Oral symptoms..