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Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ®)
Patient Version   Health Professional Version   En español   Last Modified: 11/06/2008



Purpose of This PDQ Summary






Overview






Etiopathogenesis






Oral and Dental Management Prior to Cancer Therapy






Management Following Cancer Therapy






Oral Mucositis






Infection






Hemorrhage






Neurotoxicity






Graft-versus-Host Disease






Posttransplantation Dental Treatment






Relapse and Second Malignancy






Oral Toxicities Not Related to Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy






Head/Neck Radiation Patients






Conditions Affected By Both Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation






Psychosocial Issues






Special Considerations in Pediatric Populations






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Changes to This Summary (11/06/2008)






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Posttransplantation Dental Treatment

Caution should be given relative to oral treatment for transplant patients for at least the first year posttransplant. Even though hematologic parameters including complete blood count and differential may be documented as within normal limits, functional abnormalities may still be present. Patients should not resume routine dental treatment, including dental scaling and polishing, until adequate immunologic reconstitution has occurred; this includes recovery from graft-versus-host disease. The aerosolization of debris and bacteria during the use of ultrasonic or high-speed rotary cutting instruments can put the patient at risk for aspiration pneumonia; additionally, bacteremias often occur as a result of dental treatment and their impact can be noticeable. Appropriate supportive care including antibiotics, immunoglobulin G administration, adjustment of steroid doses, and/or platelet transfusions should be comprehensively considered prior to invasive oral procedures.

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