Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) constitute more than 90% of the head and neck cancer cases, often presenting as a locally advanced disease. As techniques are improving, life expectancy of HNSCC patients have risen overtime, leading to a larger number of people facing late sequelae that often culminate in a direct and significant impact on their quality of life. For those individuals, recurrence may represent a concern for curative attempts and overall survival rates. This paper reports a clinical case of a long-term HNSCC survivor who developed multiple oral sequelae from previous cancer treatment and recent second malignancies; in order to proceed for re-irradiation, she was referred for oral assessment. Due to her age and comorbidities, private professionals reportedly refused to provide oral care, causing an immense delay to her oncology treatment that led to the progression of diverse oral symptoms and cancer itself. Considering the urgency of head and neck re-RT, the outlined oral treatment plan was conservative and included scaling and root planing, oral prophylaxis, direct resin composite restorations and hygiene orientation, in a single session. She was also referred for low-level lasertherapy.Afterwards, her health had deteriorated to such a stage she did not qualify to actually proceed for re-RT, and instead was treated with end-of-life care until the time of her death, 8 months after the above-mentioned appointments. The authors believe the prolonged search for proper oral care was significant to her already poor prognosis, as it caused an immense delay to the start of the cancer treatment.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyse the clinical and histopathological characteristics of focal oral melanocytic lesions in a Brazilian reference service in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.Materials and MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted over an 18‐year period. Demographic data and clinical features were collected from the archives, and all biopsy specimens diagnosed as oral melanocytic lesions were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsWe identified 339 melanocytic lesions. Of these, 191 were melanotic macules, 112 melanocytic nevi, 14 mucosal lentigo simplex, 12 melanomas, 9 solar lentigos, and 1 melanoacanthoma. Lesions occurred mostly in white‐skinned (74.2%) women (65.2%). The main reported clinical aspect was the macule (67.4%), and the most affected site was the lip vermilion (25.4%), followed by the palate (22.9%). Melanomas were larger in size and were observed in older patients with an overall shorter time of onset. The most frequent subtypes of melanocytic nevi were intramucosal (44.6%), compound (24.1%), and blue nevus (20.5%). They showed a heterogeneous architectural pattern with the presence of the three cell types.ConclusionThe most frequent lesions are melanotic macule and nevus, especially the intramucosal subtype. Patients are usually white‐skinned women presenting a small, long‐lasting, macular lesion on the lip vermilion or palate.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.