Epidemiologia e efeitos adversos na cavidade oral decorrentes do tratamento de câncer de cabeça e pescoço: estudo epidemiológico observacional retrospectivo

Abstract

Cancer in the head and neck region is the name given to a heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms that affect different regions, including the nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx. Treatment is based on the use of ionizing radiation exclusively or associated with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Despite its effectiveness, therapeutic management can cause undesirable effects in the oral cavity. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological findings and adverse effects resulting from the treatment of head and neck cancer in patients treated at the Federal University of Uberlândia. For this, three hundred and thirty-one medical records of patients treated between 2016 and 2021 were included. The factors evaluated were demographic data, cancer history, treatment performed and adverse effects on the oral cavity resulting from it. Chi-square test of independence was performed to assess the association between variables (α<0.05). Of the medical records analyzed, 68.3% corresponded to male patients and 31.7% to female patients, self-declared white (8.5%) or mixed race (8.5%), married (10.3%), with a mean of 59 years of age. Primary oral cavity tumor (35.3%) was the most prevalent neoplasm, followed by laryngeal cancer (27.4%). 96.3% of the patients were treated with radiotherapy, with 61 to 80 Gy (16.1%) being the most frequent total dose. Mucositis (20.3%), xerostomia (20%) and pain complaints (18.8%) were the most reported adverse effects, but there was no statistical significance when evaluating the association between oral manifestations and fractionation of the radiotherapy dose. The epidemiological profile of patients treated at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia between 2016 and 2021 was composed of men, white or brown, with a mean age of 59 years, with the neoplasm in the oral cavity, specifically in the tongue region, the most prevalent. Adverse effects to radiotherapy were evident, but there was no association with the radiation dose received.