Fatores epidemiológicos do câncer de cabeça e pescoço e avaliação do uso do A-PRF na cicatrização clínica de alvéolos de pacientes irradiados em região de cabeça e pescoço

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) represents a serious global public health problem with multifactorial causes. Five-year survival rates are approximately 50%, mainly due to the fact that most tumors are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Approximately 40% of HNC occur in the oral cavity. The dissemination of information and statistical data on SCC to the population and to health professionals, especially dental surgeons, is extremely necessary, in order to encourage the population to avoid risk factors and professionals to carry out preventive actions and early diagnosis. Treatment for this type of cancer can include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of more than one form of treatment. However, adverse effects, mainly related to radiotherapy, are observed, especially osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Tooth extraction is considered a risk factor for ORN. In cases where the patient has already undergone radiotherapy and requires tooth extraction, resources should be sought that can speed up the healing process and minimize the risk of ORN. This study was divided into 3 specific objectives: specific objective 1: retrospective evaluation of the epidemiological profile of patients with HNC treated in the Oncology Department of the Hospital de Clinics of the Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), between 2017 and 2021; specific objective 2: to assess the knowledge of undergraduate dental students at higher education institutions in Uberlandia about the epidemiology, risk factors, signs and symptoms of oral cancer, as well as their attitudes towards the diagnosis and their interest and perception of knowledge on the subject; specific objective 3: to assess the effect of A-PRF on the healing of extraction sockets in patients with head and neck cancer in the post-radiotherapy phase. Objective 1 showed a predominance of addictive habits such as smoking and alcoholism and a history of diagnosis at an advanced stage, with a predominance of stage IV. Objective 2 highlighted difficulties among undergraduates in recognizing the main characteristics of lesions with potential for malignant transformation and limited clinical experience in relation to training in performing biopsies and palpating lymph nodes. And in objective 3, the use of A-PRF did not demonstrate a clinical advantage in the healing of post-exodontia socket in patients with a history of radiotherapy in the head and neck region.