Oral microbiota and mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy: literature review

Abstract

Oral microbiota and mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy: literature review AbstractThe occurrence and severity of mucositis are the main complaints of patients with head and neck cancer submitted to radiotherapy (RT). This condition appears to be associated with changes in the oral microbiota and other side effects of RT, such as xerostomia and candidiasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of RT on the oral microbiota and its impact on radioinduced mucositis through literature review. Descriptors were selected for the collection of information in different databases, especially SciELO, BIREME, LILACS and PubMed. It was decided to consider only articles published since 1985. The descriptors radiotherapy, mucositis, dental caries, xerostomia, head and neck neoplasms and health promotion were used. It was selected 91 articles specifically discussing the microbiological aspects of mucositis, dental caries, oral candidiasis and microbial effects on the oral health of cancer patients, and 59 were included in the review. It was observed that microbial contamination is a secondary phenomenon capable of exacerbate the inflammation induced by the interaction of the radiation with the oral tissues, aggravating mucositis mainly in patients who present precarious conditions of oral hygiene, which reinforces the role of preventive dentistry in the follow up of the irradiated patient. Descriptors: Radiotherapy; Mucositis; Dental Caries; Xerostomia; Head And Neck Neoplasms; Health Promotion. ResumoA ocorrência e a severidade da mucosite constituem as principais queixas dos pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos à radioterapia (RT). Essa condição parece estar associada às modificações da microbiota bucal e aos demais efeitos colaterais da RT, como xerostomia e a candidíase. O presente trabalho de revisão da literatura teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito que a RT exerce sobre a microbiota bucal e seu impacto na mucosite radioinduzida através de revisão de literatura. Foram selecionados os descritores para a coleta de informações em diferentes bancos de dados, destacando-se SciELO, BIREME, LILACS e PubMed. Decidiu-se considerar apenas artigos publicados desde 1985. Utilizou-se como descritores os termos radioterapia, mucosite, cárie dentária, xerostomia, neoplasias de cabeça e pescoço e promoção da saúde. Foram selecionados 91 artigos que discutiam especificamente os aspectos microbiológicos da mucosite, cárie dentária, candidíase oral e efeitos microbianos na saúde bucal de pacientes oncológicos e 59 foram incluídos na revisão. Observou-se que a contaminação microbiana é fenômeno secundário capaz de agravar a inflamação induzida pela interação da radiação com os tecidos bucais, agravando-se, principalmente, em pacientes que apresentam condições precárias de higiene bucal, o que reforça o papel da odontologia preventiva no acompanhamento do paciente irradiado. Descritores: Radioterapia; Mucosite; Cárie Dentária; Xerostomia; Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço; Promoção da...

Might low-level laser therapy interfere with the frequency of severe mucositis and oral candidiasis? A retrospective analysis in patients with head and neck carcinoma

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Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Literature Review

“…in patients irradiated in the head and neck. However, the incidence of oropharyngeal candidiasis related to oral lesions is still little understood [6][7][8][9] .…”