Oral alterations in children with cancer. Literature review.

Abstract

For dentists, there is little information on malignant tumors and complications both because their natural evolution is secondary to treatment, despite cancer in children represents 3% of all cancer cases. The goal is to make a brief review of the most common neoplasm in children, to identify them and find out the oral alterations with highest incidence both as secondary to the pathology and as a side effect of treatment. This review analyses various types of malignant neoplasms which may occur in this stage of life. They are divided into haematological: leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumors. The most common leukemia is acute lymphoblastic (ALL) followed by acute myeloid and granulocytic. Lymphomas develop from the lymphatic system and are divided into Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s. Cancer has become a chronic disease favoring a new group of patients who achieve survival but suffer side effects due to therapies, drugs, doses and the child’s characteristics. Oral complications appear in 40% of cases and the most frequent are mucositis, opportunistic infection, xerostomia, bleeding, periodontal disease and disorders in the development of teeth and jaw. Although cancer is located outside of the maxillofacial area, chemotherapy is aggressive for a developing organism. The side effects of radiation therapy affect the general and specific area to radiate as well as the surrounding organs and tissues. Recently, advances in diagnosis and treatment have increased survival from 20% to 80%, with long-term treatment.

Keywords

• Cancer
• oral side effects
• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy.