Oral manifestations in children undergoing cancer therapy

Abstract

Introduction: According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is diagnosed each year in about 300,000 children aged 0-19 years, with 1,000 new cases recorded each year in Morocco, in the population under 15 years of age. Anticancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, biphosphonates ...) are often accompanied by various side effects sometimes disabling, those oral are very variable. The main manifestations described are: mucitis, xerostomia, infections, bleeding complications, caries, periodontal disease and dental anomalies, loss of taste, temporomandibular ankylosis, odontoradionecrosis, osteoradionecrosis, or radionecrosis related to biphosphonate use. In the literature, several studies focus on the relationship between childhood cancer, its treatment and its effect on the oral cavity. However, with the changes in protocols for the management of children with cancer, several studies have shown that advances in cancer therapy have had an impact on previously recognized oral complications. Aim: To analyze previously published systematic reviews on the oral manifestations of antimitotic therapy in children with a specific focus on their prevalence, prevention and management,in addition to highlighting the level of evidence from these reviews.