Cancer (c) Flashcards

1
Q

What are the roles of the dentist and dental team in patients with H+N cancer?

A

roles of the dentist and dental team:

  • early detection of soft tissue lesions
  • pre-treatment assessment and dentla care
  • minimal role during treatment unless special interest
  • maintenance of oral and dental ehalth post-tretament
  • palliative care
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2
Q

In patients with H+N cancer, the role of the dental team is to ensure that oral cancer X dental disease

A

X - does not mean that there is/does not equal

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3
Q

What is a H+N cancer patient’s journey with the dentist?

A

H+N cancer patient’s journey:

  • screening and referral
  • investigations
  • dental pre-assessment
  • support through treatment
  • restoration
  • maintenance and post-treatment management
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4
Q

What should every H+N cancer patient have prior to entering their cancer treatment?

A

every H+N cancer patient should have been dentally screened prior to entering their cancer treatment

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5
Q

Whta will oral cancer have an impact on?

A

oral cancer will have an impact on:

  • aiway
  • upper GI tract
  • major senses
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6
Q

What is involved in the pre-assessment and treatment of a H+N cancer patient?

A

pre-assessment and treatment of a H+N cancer patient:

  • medical, dental and social history
  • oral and dental assessment prior to starting cancer therapy
  • radiographs
  • any necessary treatment carried out:
    • make the patient dentally fit prior to oncological care
    • availability needed for immediate treatment sometimes
  • pre-treatment dental scaling by hygienist
  • impressions for fluoride trays
  • start fluoride therapy for dentate patients
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7
Q

What are the priorities of pre-treatment dental assessment in H+N cancer patients?

A

priorities in pre-treatment dental assessment in H+N cancer patients:

  • oral hygiene and fluoride
  • reduce treatment complications
    • avoid unscheduled interruption of chemotherapy regimen
    • avoid exacerbation of mucositis
    • remove potential sources of infection
  • reduce post-treatment complications
    • remove teeth of dubious prognosis
    • institute preventive regime
    • plan rehabilitation
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8
Q

What are some skin and mucosa effects of cancer treatement?

A
  • erythema
  • ulceration
  • mucositis
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9
Q

How can cancer treatments for H&N affect muscles and connective tissue?

A

trismus (less than 35mm opening)

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10
Q

How can cancer treatments for H&N affect the salivary glands?

A

dry mouth is caused by salivary gland dysfunction

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11
Q

Do you want to be treating a patient dentally during oncology treatment?

A

no, you don’t want to be treating a patient dentally during oncology treatment

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12
Q

What are common oral pathologies during onoclogy treatment?

A

common oral pathologies during oncology treatment:

  • Ulceration (traumatic or mucositis)
  • Infections
    • Candida infections
    • Reactivation of herpes simplex
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13
Q

What can be made to prevent traumatic ulceration from lower teeth during oncology treatment?

A

a soft splint can be made to prevent oral ulceration from lower teeth during oncology treatment

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14
Q

What can mucositis be induced by?

A

mucositis can be induced by either radiotherapy or chemotherapy

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15
Q

What is mucositis?

A

inflammation and ulceration of oral mucosal tissues which causes severe pain

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16
Q

What can mucositis have an impact on?

A

mucositis can have an impact on eating and oral hygiene

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17
Q

What is the commonest site for oral tumours?

A

the commonest site for oral tumours is the lateral border of the tongue

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18
Q

Generally, what should be avoided in patients that have mucositis?

A

in patients that have mucositis, the following should be avoided:

  • smoking
  • spirits
  • spicy foods
  • tea and coffee
  • nono-prescription mouthwashes
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19
Q

What may be required for pain relief in mucositis?

A

narcotic analgesia may be required for pain relief in mucositis

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20
Q

What can be used for prevention of mucositis?

A

prevention of mucositis:

  • aloe vera
  • amifostine
  • cryotherapy (ice chips)
  • granulocyte-colony stimulating factors
  • itravenous glutamine
  • manuka honey
  • keratinocyte growth factor
  • laser
  • polymixin/tobramycin/amphotericin antibiotic pastille/paste
  • sucralfate
21
Q

What topical agents can be used for managing mucositis?

A

topical agents for managing mucositis:

  • topical lignocaine
  • saline mouthwash
  • sodium bicarbonate
  • benzydamine hydrochloride
  • Gelclair
  • caphosol
  • tea tree oil mouthwash
  • oral cooling with ice
22
Q

What can be used as a treatment for mucositis?

A

mucositis treatment:

  • low level laser light therapy
  • morphine
23
Q

The oral carriage of X is common among cancer patients

A

X - yeasts

24
Q

Can there be painful oral ulceration with the reactivation of herpes simplex?

A

yes, there can be painful oral ulceration with reactivation of herpes simplex

25
Q

What can be said about the onset of reactivation of herpes simplex?

A

there can be a sudden onset of reactivation of herpes simplex

26
Q

There is usually a prodromal period with viral infectiosn - what does this mean?

A

there is usually a prodromal period with viral infections - this means that pain comes before ulcers appear

27
Q

What prevention would you want to do post cancer treatment?

A

post-treatment care - monitoring:

  • diet
  • oral hygiene
  • fluoride
  • trismus
  • smoking
28
Q

What would you want to monitor post treatment for cancer and how would you do this?

A

post-treatment care - monitoring:

  • increaesd frequency of check ups
  • dry mouth management
  • prosthodontics
  • appropriate referral
29
Q

What can be said about the decrease of salivary flow in the first week of radiotherapy?

A

in the first week of radiotherapy, there is a large decrease in salivary flow (50-60%)

30
Q

What can be said about the viscosity of saliva following cancer treatment?

A

there is an increase in saliva viscosity due to cancer treatment

31
Q

What can be said about the change in pH of saliva during cancer treatment?

A

during cancer treatment, there is a decrease in pH of saliva

32
Q

What can be said about the recovery of xerostomia from cancer treatment?

A

the recovery of xerostomia from cancer treatment will happen over a period of years and sometimes the saliva will not return to normal

33
Q

With xerostomia, what is there an increased risk of?

A

with xerostomia, there is an increased risk of:

  • caries
  • periodontal disease
  • candidosis
  • sialadenitis (salivary gland infections)
34
Q

What can occur due to xerostomia?

A

xerostomia:

  • dysphagia
  • dysarthria
  • dysgeusia
  • quality of life altered
  • prosthodontic difficulties
35
Q

What can be used to manage xerostomia?

A

managing xerostomia:

  • OralBalance
  • tooth mousse
  • sugar free chewing gum
  • sipping water throughout the day
36
Q

What can be done to prevent osteoradionecrosis?

A

preventing osteoradionecrosis:

  • removing teeth of doubtful prognosis in the radiotherapy field
  • OH prevention
  • extractions completed at least 10 days prior to radiotherapy
  • liaising with oncologist
37
Q

How have dental implants contributed to rehabilitation of cancer patients?

But, what is needed once they are done?

A

Revolutionised it

Good maintenance is required:

  • self care
  • professional support
38
Q

What can happen to the muscles of mastication during radiation therapy?

A

Fibrosis of the muscles of mastication causing trismus

39
Q

Is trismus caused by fibrosis of muscles of mastication reversible?

A

This type of trismus isn’t

The radiation induces fibrosis

40
Q

What does trismus have an impact on?

A

trismus has an impact on:

  • eating
  • speaking
  • oral hygiene
  • dentures
  • dental treatment
41
Q

What is the role of the dental team before cancer treatment?

A

role of the dental team before cancer treatment:

  • prevention of chemotherapy/radiotherapy complications
  • plan rehabiliation
42
Q

What is the role of the dental team during a patient’s cancer treatment?

A

role of the dental team during cancer treatment:

  • mucositis
  • emergency treatment
43
Q

What is the role of the dental team after cancer treatment?

A

role of the dental team after cancer treatment:

  • prevention
  • rehabiliation
44
Q

How can cancer treatments for H&N affect the teeth and supporting structures and bone?

A

Teeth and supporting structures:

-Dental caries and sequelae (very common as mouth becomes dry and acidic)

Bone:

-Osteoradionecrosis

(caused due to little blood vessels being affected by the radiotherapy and therefore lack of blood flow)

45
Q

Describe the reactivation of the herpes simplex virus. What is it like?

A
46
Q

Describe the characteristic pattern of caries that is seen in patients that undergo head and neck radiotherapy. What is the term used to decribe caries like this?

A
  • Radiation indued caries
  • Characteristic pattern of cervical caries
  • Happens due to the reduced salivary flow and clearance from these areas
  • The caries becomes circumferential and the crowns end up just snapping off
47
Q

What is the success of implants like in patients with irradiated bone?

A

Reduced success

48
Q

Describe the kind of pallaitve care you may have to provide.

A

In cases where tumours etc havent been managed, you need to keep the area clean and comfortable

Just try and keep the patients out of pain