Side effects of radiotherapy in oral cavity: diagnosis, prevention and treatment guidelines

• Published in: Liječnički vjesnik Vol. 131; no. 11-12; pp. 324 - 327
• Main Authors: Badzek, Sasa, Tomas, Ilijan, Krajina, Ivan, Pućo, Katarina, Kelović, Vesna Lesko, Krajina, Zdenko, Plestina, Stjepko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Croatian
• Published: Croatia 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Humans; Mouth Diseases - diagnosis; Mouth Diseases - etiology; Mouth Diseases - prevention & control; Mouth Diseases - therapy; Osteoradionecrosis - diagnosis; Osteoradionecrosis - prevention & control; Osteoradionecrosis - therapy; Radiation Injuries - diagnosis; Radiation Injuries - prevention & control; Radiation Injuries - therapy; Xerostomia - diagnosis; Xerostomia - prevention & control; Xerostomia - therapy
• ISSN: 0024-3477

To avoid, or at least to reduce complications in patients who require head and neck radiotherapy, adequate oral cavity treatment is necessary before the therapy. Recent management guidelines speak of possibilities of preventing osteoradionecrosis with hyperbaric oxygen, using long-wave ultrasound in stimulating osteoblasts growth, and surgical transfer of submandibular salivary glands to submental area with 99% effectiveness in preventing xerostomia, besides traditional therapy. Preventive measures are naturally the best choice, since late complications treatment is not needed as often, and should draw special attention of physicians and patients. Since wide a spectrum of preventive and curative measures is required, the need exists for standard teams to look after the patients during and after radiotherapy, and which should include, besides radiotherapist, oral or maxillofacial surgeon in cooperation with oral medicine specialist.