Cancers
Worsening of Oral Health Parameters After Head and Neck Radiotherapy—Findings from a Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Tumor Board: A Prospective Observational Study
By Cosimo Rupe, Gioele Gioco, Benedetta Corraro and 13 others.
Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate (a) changes in caries experience, (b) changes in periodontal status, and (c) the need for dental extractions in a cohort of patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy (RTCT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).
Methods
This prospective cohort study was approved by the local Ethics Committee (Ref. 22858/18) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04009161). The study population consisted of patients with HNC who, prior to RT, underwent a dental examination followed by the elimination of oral foci of infection and were then enrolled in a follow-up program. The primary outcome was oral health worsening, defined as the onset of severe periodontitis and/or a DMFt score ≥ 13. Oral cavity RT dose was obtained contouring the ‘buccal mucosa’ organ at risk (OAR).