Oral complications of cancer chemotherapy: prevention and management

Abstract

Cancer chemotherapy is used to destroy rapidly proliferating cells. However, normal cells with high mitotic indexes are also affected by chemotherapy, particularly those in the oral and gastrointestinal mucosa and the hemopoietic system. Ultimately, this may lead to certain oral complications of cancer chemotherapy such as mucositis, infection, hemorrhage, xerostomia, and neurologic and nutritional disorders. The prevention and management of these oral complications that may result from the chemotherapeutic management of cancer are discussed here.

Impact of leukemia and lymphoma chemotherapy on oral cavity and quality of life

“…A higher frequency of malignancy and treatment sequelae in adulthood has been described by many authors …”

“…The prevalence of scores in the outpatients as well as the highest severity in inpatients are regarded as a consequence of the involvement of general health and emotional stress caused by more prolonged hospitalization. Leukemia and lymphoma oral manifestations represent, in some cases, the first clinical manifestation of the disease, and their identification by a dentist is of great importance for an adequate patient referral …”

“…In addition to OM, the patients who undergo chemotherapy treatment may present a series of oral alterations, including xerostomy, oral pain, candidiasis, viruses, and bacterial opportunist oral infections . OM, which can be defined as an inflammation and/or ulceration of the oral mucosa, is commonly associated with pain and is an important intercurrence.…”

“…OM, which can be defined as an inflammation and/or ulceration of the oral mucosa, is commonly associated with pain and is an important intercurrence. As a consequence, the patients’ feeding and oral hygiene are impaired and may cause a treatment delay, extended hospitalization, and—in some patients—development of infections that affect their quality of life …”

Avaliação da efetividade de um protocolo de cuidados odontológicos no alívio da dor, sintomas bucais e melhora da qualidade de vida em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço em cuidados paliativos: ensaio clínico não-controlado

“…Higiene com gaze, cotonetes ou esponjas embebidas em solução de clorexidina, salina ou bicarbonato de sódio são menos traumáticas e removem efetivamente resíduos alimentares (Naylor, Terezhalmy, 1988).…”