Impact of the oral repercussions of Sjogren's Syndrome on patient's quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to perform a systematic review to evaluate the impact of the oral repercussions of Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) on the quality of life (QoL) of patients living with this disease. To conduct this work, we followed the PRISMA guidelines. The included studies evaluated oral repercussions of SS and their correlation with QoL. The risk of bias was assessed with the JBI tools for each type of study design. Our findings resulted in 26 articles met the eligibility criteria. Seventeen articles (65.3%) used the OHIP-14 questionnaire to evaluate oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL) and showed that the oral repercussions of SS had a negative impact. Ten studies applied other QoL instruments, in which 5 found a correlation between oral repercussions of SS and poorer OHRQoL, 3 showed no correlation, and 2 were unclear. Due to significant heterogeneity, the meta-analysis was limited to 8 of the 17 studies that used the OHIP-14. The results showed statistically significant poorer OHRQoL in individuals with SS compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, oral repercussions of SS negatively affect QoL. However, future studies should focus on standardized methodology to provide more homogenous and comparable evidence.

Amitriptyline effectiveness in burning mouth syndrome: An in-depth case series analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of amitriptyline (AMT), and to identify the determinants of the treatment's effectiveness in patients diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). BACKGROUND: Treatment of BMS is challenging and no established treatment protocol is available. AMT may be an important treatment option, cout not all patients benefit from this drug. Studies assessing factors related to treatment response are valuable in improving decision-making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case series study examined the medical records of all patients diagnosed with BMS at an oral medicine unit in a university hospital from 2008 to 2022. The patients were divided into responders to AMT and non-responders to AMT. Data on demographic information, comorbidities, medications, types of symptoms and oral subsites affected were collected. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to assess the association between the independent variables and the outcome, using the Chi-squared test (P < .05). RESULTS: Three hundred and fourty-nine patients reported a burning mouth sensation, 50 of them (14.3%) being diagnosed with primary BMS. Of these, 35 were treated with AMT, and 26 (74.2%) responded significantly to AMT. All males responded to AMT, whereas only 67.9% of females responded. The mean dose of AMT among responders was 29.8 ± 12.3 mg, with most patients achieving a response with 25 mg (61.5% of patients), followed by 50 mg (23%). The concomitant use of an anticonvulsant resulted in non-response. CONCLUSIONS: AMT may be effective in BMS management for most patients.

Impact of photobiomodulation for prevention of oral mucositis on the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review to evaluate the impact of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for the prevention of oral mucositis (OM) on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiation therapy. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The search strategy was performed in five electronic databases (Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). The included studies assessed the QoL of patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for HNC and undergoing PBMT for the management of OM. Seven articles met the eligibility criteria. Data extraction was performed in the selected studies including the PBMT parameters (active medium, application procedure, wavelength, fluence, power, irradiance, irradiation time, spot size, energy per point, schedule of irradiation, and total energy). The included studies were qualitatively analyzed, and descriptive analyses were performed. Also, summary results were evaluated for group comparison analysis. All included studies confirmed a decrease in the QoL of the patients that developed OM throughout the RT progress when compared to baseline. Of the informed cases, most of the patients who received PBMT showed grades 1 and 2 OM, while the control group showed more individuals with severe forms of OM (grades 3 and 4). In this sense, patients submitted to PBMT reported better QoL at the end of the treatment compared with the control group. PBMT used for the management of OM preserves the QoL of patients with head and neck cancer.

Virtual learning object about oral ulcerative lesions: controlled educational intervention study.

The aim of this study was to develop a virtual learning object (VLO) to teach undergraduate dental students about the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to oral ulcerative lesions. The VLO was developed with information on the diagnostic process, lesion classification, and clinical-surgical management of oral ulcerative lesions. The VLO content was initially validated by a group of specialists. Learning was evaluated in a sample of 58 undergraduate dental students, divided into control group (conventional theoretical class, n = 29) and intervention group (interaction with VLO, n = 29). All students answered a pre-test and post-test questionnaire. The VLO group also answered a specific questionnaire on the evaluation of the VLO. Both quantitative and qualitative descriptive analyses were performed. The validation showed that professors and students considered the VLO adequate. The use of the VLO was recommended by 100% of professors and 86.6% of students. In the intervention group, the results showed a significantly higher number of correct answers in the post-test (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the VLO proved to be a useful tool for teaching oral medicine, contributing significantly to the knowledge of ulcerated lesions in the mouth.

Ewing's sarcoma of the head and neck: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of head and neck Ewing sarcoma (ES) concerning patients' demographic and clinical features, histopathological findings, treatment, follow-up, and survival rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was undertaken in four databases. Articles describing case reports or case series were included. Outcomes were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method along with Cox regression. RESULTS: The search yielded 186 studies describing 227 ES cases. The mean age was 22.7 years, and males were slightly more affected. Interestingly, more than half the cases were diagnosed up to 20 years. The respiratory tract was the most reported site, followed by the jawbones. Clinically, symptomatic swelling or nodules were described, with a mean duration of 4 months. Management involved multimodal treatment regimens. Local recurrence, lymph node and distant metastasis were observed in 10.7%, 12.6%, and 20.3% of cases, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that older patients with distant metastasis had a lower overall survival rate (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study provides an overall view of head and neck ES that can assist oral and maxillofacial pathologists with the diagnosis and extend the knowledge of surgeons and oncologists about this condition.

Acinic cell carcinoma of the oral and maxillofacial region: an international multicenter study.

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, clinicopathological, and prognostic features of acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) of the oral and maxillofacial region. AciCC cases were retrospectively retrieved from 11 pathology centers of three different countries. Medical records were examined to extract demographic, clinical, pathologic, and follow-up information. A total of 75 cases were included. Females (65.33%) with a mean age of 45.51 years were mostly affected. The lesions usually presented as an asymptomatic (64.28%) nodule (95.66%) in the parotid gland (70.68%). The association of two histopathological patterns was the most common finding (48.93%) and the tumors presented mainly conventional histopathological grades (86.11%). Surgical treatment was performed in the majority of the cases (59.19%). Local recurrence was observed in 20% of the informed cases, regional metastasis in 30.43%, and distant metastasis in 12.50%. The statistical analysis showed that the cases with a solid histopathological pattern (p=0.01), high-grade transformation (p=0.008), recurrence (p=0.007), and regional metastasis (p=0.03) were associated with poor survival. In conclusion, high histopathological transformation, presence of nodal metastasis, and recurrence were prognostic factors for AciCC of the oral and maxillofacial region.

Proposal of a secure and efficient protocol for a murine oral carcinogenesis model induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO).

An important rat model using the chemical carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) has been described for the study of the process of oral carcinogenesis. This model replicates the gradual progression seen in oral carcinoma patients. However, due to its high level of toxicity, its use in fundamental research is challenging. Here, we propose a secure and efficient modified protocol based on a lower dose of 4NQO concentration as well as an increased water supply and hypercaloric diet, in order to reduce the damage caused to the animals during the process of oral carcinogenesis. Twenty-two male Wistar rats were exposed to 4NQO, evaluated clinically once a week and euthanized at 12 and 20 weeks for histopathological analysis. The protocol involves a staggered dose of 4NQO up to a concentration of 25 ppm, associated with two days of pure water, a 5% glucose solution once a week and a hypercaloric diet. This modified protocol prevents the immediate consequences of the carcinogen. At week 7, all animals displayed clinically evident tongue lesions. From a histological perspective, after 12 weeks of 4NQO exposure, 72.7% of the animals developed epithelial dysplasia and 27.3% developed in situ carcinoma. In the group exposed for 20 weeks, epithelial dysplasia and in situ carcinoma were diagnosed in one case each, whereas invasive carcinoma was diagnosed in 81.8% of the cases. Nonsignificant modification of animal's behavior and weight was observed. This new proposed 4NQO protocol was secure and effective for studying oral carcinogenesis and can be used to conduct lengthy investigations.

Revisiting the evidence of photodynamic therapy for oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma: An overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: This study summarized the available evidence about the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the management of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: An overview of systematic reviews was undertaken based on the 2020 PRISMA statement. Electronic searches were performed in five databases. Studies published up to November 2022 were included. Risk of bias was assessed with the AMSTAR 2 tool. RESULTS: A total of 30 studies enrolling 9,245 individuals with OPMD (n = 7,487) or OSCC (n = 1,758) met the selection criteria. All studies examined the efficacy and/or safety of PDT. OPMD were investigated individually in 82.8% of the studies, the most common being oral lichen planus and actinic cheilitis. OSCC was addressed separately in 10.3% of the studies, while only 6.9% evaluated both OPMD and OSCC. Fourteen different types of photosensitizers were described. PDT was used according to the following setting parameters: 417-670 nm, 10-500 mW/cm2, 1.5-200 J/cm2, and 0.5-143 min. Regarding OPMD, leukoerythroplakia showed the best response rates, while oral lichen planus presented a partial or no response in nearly 75% of documented cases. A complete response was observed in 85.9% of OSCC cases, while 14.1% had no resolution. CONCLUSION: Overall, the response to PDT depended on the type of OPMD/OSCC and the parameters used. Although PDT is an emerging candidate for the treatment of OPMD and OSCC, there is heterogeneity of the methodologies used and the clinical data obtained, particularly regarding the follow-up period.

Oral and maxillofacial tuberculosis: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the demographic, clinical, histopathological, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up data on the occurrence of oral and maxillofacial tuberculosis (OMTB). METHODS: Electronic searches without publication date restrictions were undertaken in four databases. Case reports and case series describing the occurrence of OMTB were included. Critical evaluation of studies was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute - University of Adelaide tool for case reports or case series. RESULTS: A total of 217 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, for a total of 301 cases of OMTB. Of these patients, 192 (63.7%) were male, with an average age of 39.6 ± 19.8 (15 months to 81 years). The tongue (n = 80/26.6%) represented the most common affected site, followed by the mandible (n = 43/14.3%). The clinical presentation consisted mainly of a painful ulcerated lesion (n = 156/56.5%). Histopathological analysis showed a granulomatous inflammation in most cases (n = 156/63.1%). The main diagnostic methods used were sputum test (n = 53/26.8%), culture (n = 49/24.7%) and purified protein derivative (PPD), or Mantoux test (n = 49/24.7%). Antituberculosis therapy was used in 244 cases (100.0%) and 5.2% of patients died. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provided clinical, demographic data and information about diagnostic methods of OMTB lesions and served as an important guide to assist health professionals in the early diagnosis of these lesions.

Impact of photobiomodulation in a patient-derived xenograft model of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is an effective method for the prevention of oral mucositis. However, the effects of PBMT on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PBMT in an OSCC-patient-derived xenograft (OSCC-PDX) model. METHODS: BALB/c nude mice with OSCC-PDX models were divided into Control, without PBMT (n = 8); Immediate irradiation, PBMT since one week after tumor implantation (n = 6); and Late irradiation, PBMT after tumors reached 200 mm3 (n = 6). OSCC-PDX were daily irradiated (660 nm; 100 mW; 6 J/cm2 ; 0,2 J/point) for 12 weeks. The tumors were collected and submitted to volumetric, histological, immunohistochemistry, and cell cycle analysis. RESULTS: No significant differences in the volumetric measurements (p = 0.89) and in the histopathological grade (p > 0.05) were detected between the groups. The immunohistochemical analysis of Ki-67 (p = 0.9661); H3K9ac (p = 0.3794); and BMI1 (p = 0.5182), and the evaluation of the cell cycle phases (p > 0.05) by flow cytometry also did not demonstrate significant differences between the irradiated and non-irradiated groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, PBMT did not impact the behavior of OSCC-PDX models. This is an important preclinical outcome regarding safety concerns of the use of PBMT in cancer patients.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Total Rehabilitation of a Secondary Type Ameloblastic Carcinoma.

Ameloblastic carcinoma (AC) is an uncommon malignant odontogenic tumor, with about 200 cases published in the literature. Here, we report a case of AC occurring in the maxilla - at the same anatomical location of an ameloblastoma 8 years earlier. A 23-year-old woman with maxillary swelling of 6-month duration was referred to our service. Extraoral examination revealed a swelling over the right side of the face, lifting her lip and nose. Intraorally, a firm, reddish, nodular swelling involving the right maxilla was observed. Computed tomography showed a hypodense image invading the right maxilla, maxillary sinus, and nasal fossa. An incisional biopsy was performed, followed by histopathologic examination and an immunohistochemical panel, which led to the diagnosis of AC. The lesion was treated with partial maxillectomy followed by immediate rehabilitation. Neither local recurrence of the tumor nor distant metastasis was observed during a 4-year follow-up. AC is a highly malignant lesion which requires aggressive therapy. Its diagnosis should be based on combined clinical, imaging, and pathological manifestations in order to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Association between perceived self-confidence and abilities to distinguish oral mucosal lesions amongst dental students.

INTRODUCTION: Dentists usually refer to difficulties in performing the diagnosis of oral mucosal lesions. This may be attributed to limited access to theoretical lectures and practical training on this subject along the graduation course. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to verify if there is an association between the perception of time dedicated to lectures/training and oral diagnosis abilities in oral medicine. The secondary aim was to evaluate the association between self--confidence to perform oral mucosal lesions diagnosis and performance in a diagnostic abilities test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 36 final-year dental students of a South-Brazilian dental school. The participants answered a questionnaire on their perception of time dedicated to lectures on oral medicine along the course (sufficient or insufficient) and their self-confidence to diagnose oral mucosal lesions or oral cancer (yes or not). The students were also submitted to a diagnostic abilities test based on 30 clinical photos of oral lesions, which should be classified as benign, potentially malignant or malignant. Moreover, the participants had to inform their clinical impression for each case. Finally, the participants informed their decision making for the case (refer the patient to a specialist or not). RESULTS: Students with higher self-confidence showed a higher percentage of correct answers on classification of the nature of lesions (81.1% vs. 68.5%, p = .03, teste t de Student) and on their clinical impression (66.3% vs. 41.7%, p < .01, Student's t-test). The perception of time dedicated to theoretical lectures on oral medicine as sufficient did not influence the students' diagnostic abilities (p > .05, Student's t-test) CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that self-confidence to diagnose oral lesions is associated with dental students' diagnostic abilities.

Acinic cell carcinoma of the oral and maxillofacial region: an international multicenter study

Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, clinicopathological, and prognostic features of acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) of the oral and maxillofacial region. AciCC cases were retrospectively retrieved from 11 pathology centers of three different countries. Medical records were examined to extract demographic, clinical, pathologic, and follow-up information. A total of 75 cases were included. Females (65.33%) with a mean age of 45.51 years were mostly affected. The lesions usually presented as an asymptomatic (64.28%) nodule (95.66%) in the parotid gland (70.68%). The association of two histopathological patterns was the most common finding (48.93%) and the tumors presented mainly conventional histopathological grades (86.11%). Surgical treatment was performed in the majority of the cases (59.19%). Local recurrence was observed in 20% of the informed cases, regional metastasis in 30.43%, and distant metastasis in 12.50%. The statistical analysis showed that the cases with a solid histopathological pattern (p=0.01), high-grade transformation (p=0.008), recurrence (p=0.007), and regional metastasis (p=0.03) were associated with poor survival. In conclusion, high histopathological transformation, presence of nodal metastasis, and recurrence were prognostic factors for AciCC of the oral and maxillofacial region.

Virtual learning object about oral ulcerative lesions: controlled educational intervention study

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop a virtual learning object (VLO) to teach undergraduate dental students about the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to oral ulcerative lesions. The VLO was developed with information on the diagnostic process, lesion classification, and clinical-surgical management of oral ulcerative lesions. The VLO content was initially validated by a group of specialists. Learning was evaluated in a sample of 58 undergraduate dental students, divided into control group (conventional theoretical class, n = 29) and intervention group (interaction with VLO, n = 29). All students answered a pre-test and post-test questionnaire. The VLO group also answered a specific questionnaire on the evaluation of the VLO. Both quantitative and qualitative descriptive analyses were performed. The validation showed that professors and students considered the VLO adequate. The use of the VLO was recommended by 100% of professors and 86.6% of students. In the intervention group, the results showed a significantly higher number of correct answers in the post-test (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the VLO proved to be a useful tool for teaching oral medicine, contributing significantly to the knowledge of ulcerated lesions in the mouth.

Prognostic factors from squamous cell carcinoma of the hard palate, gingiva and upper alveolar ridge.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicodemographic characteristics and treatment protocol as prognostic factors in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the hard palate, upper gingiva, and alveolar ridge (HPUGAR). This retrospective cohort study collected data of patients treated in two head and neck surgery departments in southern Brazil between 1999 and 2021. Information on clinicodemographic data, habits, site, size, clinical aspect, clinical staging, cervical metastasis, treatment, and survival was collected. Associations between independent variables and outcomes were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test and binary regression. Kaplan-Meier test was employed to compare the survival between the neck approaches. Forty-one patients were included; most were male (61%), with a mean age of 68.8 (± 13.9) years. The consumption of tobacco (p = 0.003) and alcohol (p = 0.02) was significantly higher in male than in female patients. The main clinical features observed in the study sample were lesions larger than 2 cm (48.7%), no cervical (90.2%), or distant metastasis (90.2%). Surgery alone was the main treatment approach (48.8%). The watch-and-wait strategy was adopted in 34 cases (83.0%), while elective neck dissection was applied in five (12.2%). Only two patients with cN0 disease (4.9%) presented with cervical metastasis at follow-up. Eight patients (12.2%) died of the disease. Clinicodemographic variables, habits, surgical margins, and histological subtype were not significantly associated with cervical metastasis or survival. Cervical metastasis (p = 0.004) was associated with poor survival. No difference was detected in survival between different neck approaches (p = 0.28). Cervical metastasis and local recurrence are negative prognostic factors for HPUGAR OSCC.

Distance learning course improves primary care dentists' diagnosis and self-efficacy in the management of oral lesions.

Oral cancer represents a public health issue because of its high mortality rate, resulting mainly from diagnostic delays. Insufficient training in oral diagnosis is usually perceived by dentists. Distance learning could be used as an auxiliary tool to bridge that gap. This study evaluated the impact of a distance learning course on oral mucosal lesion diagnosis offered to public healthcare dentists. Participants of an online course answered a pretest/posttest comprising clinical images of 30 clinical cases. Participants were questioned about the diagnosis and informed their decision on the cases (referring the cases to a specialist or managing them themselves), as a parameter of perceived self-efficacy. A total of 442 dentists enrolled in the course. Their pass rate was 97%. Classification of the nature of the lesions, diagnostic hypotheses, sensitivity, and specificity improved by 13.4%, 10.0%, 13.4%, and 6.6%, respectively (p<0.01, Wilcoxon test). Regarding management, there was a 16.6% reduction in the intention to refer cases, while confidence in the diagnosis of benign lesions increased by 40%. A distance learning course may be useful in continuing education actions for primary care dentists, improving their diagnostic abilities and encouraging them in the management of oral lesions. Moreover, this strategy could contribute to disseminating knowledge to remote regions, particularly among primary health care professionals.

4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) induced oral carcinogenesis: A systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Based on a critical review of published studies, we aimed to develop a good practice guide for using 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) as an inducer of oral carcinogenesis in Wistar rats. DESIGN: A systematic search was performed on Medline Ovid, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The SYRCLE's risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. RESULTS: Thirty-five articles met the selection criteria; 22 (62.9%) of them administered 4NQO systemically in drinking water, with a mean concentration of 30.2 ppm (SD±15.9) and during a mean period of 20.8 (SD±7.8) weeks. The other 13 (37.1%) studies performed topical applications of 4NQO painting the oral mucosa of the animals three times a week (100%) with a mean period of administration of 16.8 (SD±7.0) weeks. Different 4NQO concentrations used for other periods achieved significant tumor development. Most studies didn't perform quantitative clinical analysis, and the histopathological diagnosis/grading criteria varied considerably. CONCLUSIONS: A poor description of solution care, adverse effects, and the number of losses were observed, and the reporting of these features needs to be improved. Suggestions to guide the development of future research are provided.

Analysis of factors that influence quality of life of individuals undergoing treatment for mandibular fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To address the factors that affect the quality of life (QoL) of individuals undergoing treatment for mandibular fractures. STUDY DESIGN: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the search strategy was constructed according to the Populations, Interventions, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study Design principle in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE. Risk of bias assessment was performed with Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions and Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials 2. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included: 15 observational and 4 clinical trials. Mean age ranged from 28 to 39 years, with a higher proportion of males. The condyle was the main fracture location and traffic accident was the fracture cause. Treatment approaches were mostly open reduction (89.4%) and maxillomandibular fixation (63%). QoL measurements varied considerably with the General Oral Health Assessment Index (31.5%) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (21%) as the main instruments. Meta-analysis showed that open reduction and maxillomandibular fixation did not present significant differences to QoL (P = .39), but significant differences were observed with time (P < .00001). Other factors affected QoL, such as mental health, pain, socializing, appearance, and eating difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors, apart from the treatment approach, mentioned in this review seemed to affect the QoL of patients with mandibular trauma. Treatment choice should be based on well-stablished clinical criteria and on all other factors mentioned here.

Investigation of oral and general health status and IL-1ß gene polymorphism as risk factors for oral mucositis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship of OM with possible risk factors such as oral health condition, immunological status and IL-1ß profile in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Fifty-four individuals submitted to HSCT were included. All patients received previous dental treatment and photobiomodulation (PBM) as the institutional OM preventive protocol. OM scores, immune status, and IL-1ß levels were determined during the conditioning period and at D+3 and D+8 after HSC infusion. IL-1ß gene polymorphism was also analyzed during conditioning. Possible associations of OM with risk factors were analyzed using conditional Fisher's exact test. OM was observed in 34 patients (62.9%) classified as Grade 1 (13 patients/24.1%), Grade 2 (14 patients/25.9%), Grade 3 (3 patients/5.5%), and Grade 4 (4 patients/7.4%). Allogeneic HSCT individuals exhibited a higher OM grade than autologous subjects. Moreover, an association was observed between severe OM and severe gingivitis (p = 0.01), neutropenia (p = 0.03), and leukopenia (p = 0.04). A significant association between OM and lower IL-1ß levels was detected at three time points, i.e., conditioning (p = 0.048), D+3 (p = 0.01), and D+8 (p = 0.005). The results showed that IL-1ß gene polymorphism was not associated with OM. Our study provided important insights into the scope of OM risk factors in the setting of HSCT. Patients submitted to HSCT with severe gingivitis prior to chemotherapy and with severe neutropenia and leukopenia exhibited a higher OM grade. Further investigation will be necessary to better understand the exact role of IL-1ß in the context of OM pathobiology and to validate cytokine analysis in larger cohorts.