Long-term adverse effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on dental development in children

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer Vol. 17; no. 9; pp. 1169 - 1175
• Main Authors: van der Pas-van Voskuilen, I. G. M., Veerkamp, J. S. J., Raber-Durlacher, J. E., Bresters, D., van Wijk, A. J., Barasch, A., McNeal, S., Gortzak, R. A. Th
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.09.2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cancer; Cancer therapies; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytotoxins - adverse effects; Female; Finland; Health care; Hematologic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Humans; Infant; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Original Article; Pain Medicine; Rehabilitation Medicine; Stem cells; Tooth - drug effects; Tooth - growth & development; Finland; Dental abnormalities; Late effects; Chemotherapy; Total body irradiation; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Childhood cancer
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-008-0567-1

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess late effects of cytotoxic therapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) on dental development in survivors of childhood cancer. Materials and methods Forty children who underwent allogeneic HCT for a variety of hematological malignancies were evaluated at a minimum of 2 years after transplantation. We obtained information on oral symptoms, exposed panoramic radiographs (PRG), and performed an oral examination. PRGs were scored for agenesis and root and/or crown abnormalities. The root–crown ratio was calculated, and dental age was assessed using Demirjian’ s method. Main results The studied group showed a significantly higher prevalence of tooth agenesis compared to normative data for first and second premolars in both the maxilla and mandible, as well as the second molars in the mandible (all p values <0.001). Children who were <3 years old at the time of cancer treatment had significantly more missing teeth than older children, F (2,37) = 7.58, p  < 0.002. Root–crown ratios were lower in the study sample than those from normative data. In addition, the mean dental age was higher (as a result of earlier apical root closure) than the mean chronological age, t (28) = 2.47, p  < 0.020. Conclusions Nearly all children examined had dental development disturbances, including agenesis, short roots, and arrested root development. An oral/dental evaluation and preventative oral supportive care regimens should be part of programs monitoring late effects in long-term survivors of childhood cancer.