Efeitos colaterais da radioterapia na cavidade oral : revisão de literatura

Abstract

Head and neck neoplasms affect a large part of the population. These tumors can settle in any location of the head and neck. Its treatment can be performed through radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. Ionizing radiation is an important form of treatment that acts against the cancer cells causing their destruction. Despite being a treatment of great relevance for head and neck cancer, radiotherapy therapy causes damage to normal tissues, leading to several acute and late complications that interfere with the quality of life of cancer patients. Thus, the present work aims to perform a literature review on the main lesions that arise in the oral cavity after radiotherapy treatment of oral cancer. Radiotherapy treatment is an important therapeutic modality for patients with head and neck cancer. Although widely used, this modality of treatment still brings some complications that directly and indirectly interfere in the quality of life of patients who require this intervention. Complications can arise during or months and years after the procedure. The importance of a multidisciplinary team is of paramount importance to guide in the prevention and treatment of the complications that affect such patients.