Osteorradionecrose em pacientes submetidos à radioterapia em cabeça e pescoço: revisão de literatura

Abstract

Radiotherapy (RT) is a therapeutic modality used as one of the treatments for head and neck cancer (CCP). RT aims to destroy or prevent the growth of tumor cells, but the ionizing beams also cause damage to adjacent tissues, thus affecting the oral cavity and impairing the quality of life of the patient. Among the adverse effects of RT are damage to the salivary glands and xerostomia, mucositis, dysphagia, dysgeusia, trismus, radiation-related caries and osteoradionecrosis (ORN). ORN is one of the most severe late complications of RT, it is characterized as a necrotic lesion in which the irradiated bone becomes devitalized and exposed through the loss of integrity of the oral mucosa. The signs and symptoms of this condition include bone exposure, halitosis, trismus, pain, drainage of secretion and pathological fractures. The purpose of the study was to perform a literature review highlighting the pathophysiology, predisposing factors, clinical and radiographic characteristics, prevention and treatment modalities of ORN, emphasizing the importance of the participation of the dentist in the oncologic multidisciplinary team, which plays a key role in prevention, treatment of complications and monitoring of patients undergoing RT.