Chemotherapy-associated oral complications in a south Indian population: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of medicine and life Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 470 - 478
• Main Authors: Jena, Suvranita, Hasan, Shamimul, Panigrahi, Rajat, Das, Pinali, Mishra, Namrata, Saeed, Shazina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romania Carol Daila University Foundation 01-04-2022; Carol Davila University Press
• Subjects: Age groups; Aged; Breast cancer; Cancer therapies; Cell growth; Chemotherapy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytotoxicity; Drugs; Gender; Humans; Mucositis; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Oral Ulcer; Original; Patients; Population studies; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Radiation therapy; Risk factors; Socioeconomic factors; Systemic diseases; stomatotoxicity; cancer; oral health physician; xerostomia; quality of life; chemotherapy
• ISSN: 1844-122X; 1844-3117
• DOI: 10.25122/jml-2021-0342

Over the years, chemotherapy (CT) has evolved as an essential therapeutic modality for cancer, with oral manifestations frequently encountered as complications of cancer CT. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of oral complications during CT and evaluate the significance of independent risk factors (age, gender, socio-economic status, oral hygiene practices etc). A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary cancer hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, in which a total of 138 hospitalized patients undergoing CT and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. Comprehensive history and rigorous clinical examination eliciting the oral manifestations were carried out. Around 60% of patients exhibited oral manifestations. Xerostomia and lichenoid reactions were the highest and lowest recorded manifestations. Higher frequencies of oral lesions occurred in patients with breast cancer, TNM stage III, and with the administration of the docetaxel. Also, patients in the older age group, poor socio-economic status, poor quality of life, poor oral hygiene practices, and longer CT duration demonstrated more oral lesions. Individuals subjected to a dental evaluation either before or during CT exhibited a reduction in the number of oral features. Several oral complications were reported in the present study. All patients undergoing chemotherapy must receive reinforcement of oral hygiene instructions and dental evaluation before, during, and after chemotherapy treatment. The study also emphasizes the importance of oral health physician inclusion in the multidisciplinary cancer treatment team.