The impact of radiation caries on morbidity and mortality outcomes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients.

AIMS: Radiation caries (RC) is a highly prevalent and chronic complication of head and neck radiotherapy (HNRT) and presents a challenge for clinicians and patients. The present study aimed to assess the impact of RC on the morbidity and mortality outcomes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were divided into three groups: (1) RC (n = 20), (2) control (n = 20), and (3) edentulous (n = 20). Information regarding the number of appointments, dental procedures, osteoradionecrosis (ORN), prescriptions, and hospital admissions were collected. Mortality outcomes were assessed through disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. RC patients required more dental appointments (p < .001), restorations (p < .001), extractions (p = .001), and antibiotic and analgesic prescriptions (p < .001). Kaplan-Meier subgroup analyses showed a significantly increased risk of ORN in RC compared to edentulous patients (p = .015). RC patients presented lower DFS rates (43.2 months) than the control and edentulous groups (55.4 and 56.1 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: RC impacts morbidity outcomes among cancer survivors due to increased demand for medication prescriptions, multiple specialized dental appointments, invasive surgical treatments, increased risk of ORN, and increased need for hospital admissions.

Clinical predictors of malignant transformation and recurrence in oral potentially malignant disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review dedicated to pooling evidence for the associations of clinical features with malignant transformation (MT) and recurrence of 3 oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) (actinic cheilitis [AC], oral leukoplakia [OL], and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia [PVL]). STUDY DESIGN: We selected studies that included clinical features and risk factors (age, sex, site, size, appearance, alcohol intake, tobacco use, and sun exposure) of OL, PVL, and AC associated with recurrence and/or MT. RESULTS: Based on the meta-analysis results, non-homogeneous OL appears to have a 4.53 times higher chance of recurrence after treatment. We also found 6.52 higher chances of MT of non-homogeneous OL. Another clinical feature related to higher MT chances is the location (floor of the mouth and tongue has 4.48 higher chances) and the size (OL with >200 mm2 in size has 4.10 higher chances of MT). Regarding habits, nonsmoking patients with OL have a 3.20 higher chance of MT. The only clinical feature related to higher chances of MT in patients with PVL was sex (females have a 2.50 higher chance of MT). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that some clinical features may indicate greater chances of recurrence after treatment and MT of OPMD.

Examining tumor modulating effects of photobiomodulation therapy on head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is an effective method for preventing and managing oral mucositis (OM) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients undergoing radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy. However, the potential effects of PBM therapy on premalignant and malignant cells eventually present in the treatment site are yet unknown. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effects of PBM therapy on HNSCC. A literature search was conducted in four indexed databases as follows: MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus. The databases were reviewed for papers published up to and including in October 2018. In vitro and in vivo studies that investigated the effects of PBM therapy on HNSCC were selected. From the 852 initially gathered studies, 15 met the inclusion criteria (13 in vitro and 2 in vivo). Only three in vitro studies were noted to have a low risk of bias. The included data demonstrated wide variations of study designs, PBM therapy protocols, and study outcomes. Cell proliferation and viability were the primary evaluation outcome in the in vitro studies. Of the 13 in vitro studies, seven noted a positive effect of PBM therapy on inhibiting or preventing an effect on HNSCC tumor cells, while six studies saw increased proliferation. One in vivo study reported increased oral SCC (OSCC) progression, while the other observed reduced tumor progression. Overall, the data from the studies included in the present systematic review do not support a clear conclusion about the effects of PBM therapy on HNSCC cells.

Cracked tooth syndrome in irradiated patients with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of enamel craze lines (ECLs), part of the spectrum of the so-called cracked tooth syndrome, on the surface of teeth irradiated in vivo. STUDY DESIGN: Forty teeth extracted from patients with head and neck cancer were paired, matched, and equally divided into 4 groups: noncarious irradiated (G1); noncarious control (G2); radiation-related caries (RRC) (G3), and carious control (G4). Samples were examined for ECL detection with a fiberoptic transillumination device and photographed, and ECL mean size, number, and patterns of topographic distribution in tooth crown were determined. Groups were compared accordingly: G1 versus G2; G3 versus G4. RESULTS: We analyzed 538 ECLs, of which 30.1% were found in noncarious irradiated teeth, 19.3% in noncarious controls, 27.6% in RRC, and 23% in carious controls. Non-carious irradiated teeth presented higher quantities of ECL than non-carious control (P < 0.05). Higher incidences of ECLs were identified in specific enamel topographies of anterior G1 and G3 samples (P <.05). There was no correlation between ECL size/numbers and radiation isodose delivery to teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Increased incidence of ECLs may indicate weakened enamel structure in irradiated teeth, and this may play a role in the onset and progression of RRC.