Lesões orais decorrentes do tratamento quimioterápico em crianças: ação das drogas antineoplásticas na cavidade oral dos pacientes infantis

Abstract

Approximately 9,000 new cases of childhood cancer appear each year, making it the second leading cause of mortality among children and adolescents. Stomatological complications in patients who have oncological or onco-hematological diseases are even more present in children under 12 years of age, the most affected being those undergoing antineoplastic treatments, such as: surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The main objective of the study is to address the main aspects related to chemotherapy treatment and its relationship with the oral cavity in pediatric patients, as well as treatment and means of preventing these injuries. The work is characterized as a literature review, descriptive and qualitative, where materials were consulted in the Scielo, Academic Google, PubMed and Medline databases. Studies from 2000 to 2021 were analyzed. It was identified that the advance of pathological manifestations in the mouth region has been causing a series of complications, especially in children undergoing radiotherapy treatment. The most used treatments as a way to control and minimize risks are radiotherapy, and, in most cases, surgery, which can be isolated or associated. Among the main pathological oral manifestations that interfere in the life and treatment of childhood cancer patients, dry mouth, trismus, oral mucositis (the most common of all), and osteonecrosis (the most serious) stand out. The problems that arise can have different causes, considering factors such as daily dose of drug, intensity, duration, area of action, type of radiation and several other aspects. The need for a multidisciplinary team, the maintenance of adequate oral hygiene and the follow-up of adequate dental procedures is highlighted.