Therapeutics Advances
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World J Stomatol. Nov 20, 2013; 2(4): 71-78
Published online Nov 20, 2013. doi: 10.5321/wjs.v2.i4.71
Stomatological management of head and neck cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Ronell Bologna-Molina, Alvaro Maglia, Raúl Enrique Castañeda-Castaneira, Nelly Molina-Frechero
Ronell Bologna-Molina, Alvaro Maglia, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
Raúl Enrique Castañeda-Castaneira, Nelly Molina-Frechero, Health Care Department, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco, 04960 Mexico City, Mexico
Author contributions: Bologna-Molina R wrote, revised the manuscript and designed the figures; Maglia A, Castañeda-Castaneira RE and Molina-Frechero N these co-authors contributed equally to the writing of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Ronell Bologna-Molina, DDS, PhD, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Las Heras 125, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay. ronellbologna@hotmail.com
Telephone: +598-2487-3048 Fax: +598-2400-8640
Received: July 12, 2013
Revised: July 31, 2013
Accepted: August 5, 2013
Published online: November 20, 2013
Processing time: 130 Days and 10.3 Hours
Abstract

Treatment of head and neck cancer with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy can cause oral damage. Long-term treatment can damage the salivary glands, the oral mucosa, and the maxilla, leading to altered production of saliva and to multiple infections. These lesions can be prevented, limited or avoided by thorough evaluation prior to treatment and by therapeutic follow-up and preventive measures. The dentist must have strong medical knowledge of the possible short-, medium-, and long-term oral complications of the cancer treatment, and must have knowledge of the protocols for oral management of cancer patients. The availability of a multidisciplinary medical team together with a dentist to attend to the patient prior to the cancer treatment, as well as close communication between team members during and after treatment, is crucial. The aim of the present study was review the stomatological management of head and neck cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and summarizing current treatments, therapeutic innovation and tissue regeneration perspectives.

Keywords: Stomatological management; Head and neck; Cancer

Core tip: The aim of the present study was to conduct a review of therapeutic advances in the prevention and management of oral disorders in head and neck cancer patients receiving radio- and chemotherapy. The study focuses on possible risk factors and on the prevention of these disorders.