Oral Cancer Flashcards
(127 cards)
what therapies are utilized in oral cancer
- surgery
- radiation
- chemotherapy
what are the types of surgery used in oral cancer
- biopsy/radical neck dissection
- mandibular resection/graft
- maxillectomy/oro-antral communication
- glossectomy
where would radiation be targeted at in oral cancer
- base of tongue
- nasopharynx
what are the two ways radiation can be delivered in oral cancer and which is more common
- fixed beam radiation
- intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): more common
what is fixed beam radiation therapy
all the tissue between the portals receive the same dose
- more like a PA xray
what is intensity modulated radiation therapy
- a constantly moving beam administers different amounts of radiation to the tissues
- the tumor receives the highest amount of radiation
- minimal amounts of radiation are applied to vital structures - spinal cord, salivary glands
- more like a pano
what is fractionation
the application of radiation therapy in smaller consecutive doses to minimize the lethal effects and limit the side effects of the therapy
what is the dose used in fractionation
5 times a week for 5 to 7 consecutive weeks
what are the 5 Rs of fractionation
- repair
- redistribution
- repopulation
- reoxygenation
- radiosensitivity
radiation causes _____ damage to normal and malignant cells
sub-lethal
the repair pathways are often blocked or impaired by:
the malignant cells resulting in death
describe redistribution
- DNA is more sensitive during G2 and M phases
- most stable is S phase
- fractionation provides multiple opportunities to affect the cells when they are in the sensitive phase
describe repopulation
- rapid repopulation of the malignant cells can occur approximately 4-5 weeks after the initial radiation dose
- fractionation over 5-7 weeks prevents the rapid repopulation of these cells
describe reoxygenation
- tumor cells are more resistance to radiation in hypoxic environments
- fractionaction increases the odds that the tumor cells will be in a nutrient field during radiation
- the outermost tumor cells are destroyed exposing the hypoxic inner layers of tumor cells
describe radiosensitivity
- involves the recognition of certain proteins, receptors and kinases that may make cells less sensitive to radiation
- recognizing the presence of the components may help predict the success of radiation therapy in certain cases
what should be done prior to radiation
- complete dental/perio evaluation
- establish a baseline
- previous dental experience/frequency
- extract suspect teeth in the radiation field
- complete prophy and restorative tx
- fabricate custom fluoride trays
what are the indications for extractions prior to radiation therapy
- non restorable caries or high caries rate
- periodontal pocketing greater than 5mm
- furcation involvement
- impacted teeth
what are the complications of radiation
- xerostomia/dental caries
- mucositis
- osteoradionecrosis
- trismus
- hypoguesia/dysgeusia
- nutritional deficiency
what salivary glands are most affected by radiation
serous glands such as parotid and submandibular
what types of glands are each of the major salivary glands
- parotid: seroud
- submandibular: serous/mucous
- sublingual: primarily mucous
salivary hypofunction can occur when exposed to radiation doses as low as:
25 Gy
the rapid formation and progression of dental caries is mainly attributed to the:
reduced quality and quantity of the saliva
what are the treatments for xerostomia
- water
- salivary substitutes
- minimize carbohydrate and alcohol intake
- alcohol free mouth rinses: peridex and crest pro health
- listerine
- sugar free gum
what is xylitol from and why is it effective
- sugar alcohol originally derived from birch trees
- commercially produced from corn cobs
- caries causing bacteria are unable to metabolize it