Manifestações orais do tratamento oncológico

: estudo observacional numa população hospitalar

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of cancer has substantially increased in the last century, and cancer treatment conveys numerous side effects. At oral level we can observe mucositis, changes in salivary glands, dysphagia, dysgeusia, rampant caries, bleeding caused by blood dyscrasias, and osteoradionecrosis osteocchemonecrosis. Thus, it is important that the dentist is acquainted with these oral signs in order to be able to provide better life quality to cancer patients. Objective: To evaluate the oral manifestations of cancer treatment, so as to develop an action protocol to minimise and treat potential complications related to this type of therapy. Material and methods: Observation and questionnaires were applied to patients undergoing chemotherapy in Hospital de Dia de S.Teotónio - Viseu between April and May 2012. The frequency of tumor type, stage of the tumor, therapeutic regimens, and oral manifestations were determined, as well as monitoring and oral advising, involving all these variables. For the statistical processing of the collected information was used the Fisher's exact test and the correlation matrix. Results: It was collected a sample of 30 patients. Half of them - 50% (n = 15) - was diagnosed cancer in stage IV according to TNM classification. The most common tumor was the colorectal, affecting 63.3% (n = 19). Therefore, the most frequent treatment procedures were the Folfox - 40% (n = 12) - and Folfiri - 20% (n = 6), both administered for colorectal tumor. On average, they are observed 1.87 (± 1.22) oral manifestations per patient; xerostomia is the most common, followed by oral mucositis. From the study sample, 30% (n = 9) had oral monitoring, however only 4 patients (13.3%) were advised to visit their dentist. Conclusion: The dentist’s monitoring before, during and after cancer treatment is of utmost importance to reduce its side effects. Therefore, the dentist must be part of the oncology team since the treatment planning in order to prevent and treat any oral manifestation, improving the life quality of cancer patients.

Date of Award	19 Feb 2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Rui Amaral Mendes (Supervisor) & Tinoco Torres Lopes (Co-Supervisor)