Cariogenic Activity in Saliva of Korean Head and Neck Cancer Patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva of the head and neck cancer patients. Twenty three cancer patients (19 males, 4 females) who had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy and twenty four healthy volunteers (14 males, 10 females) as a control were included. Salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva were examined. Compared to saliva of the control group, salivary flow rate (p<0.001) and salivary pH (p<0.001) were significantly lower in head and neck cancer patients. The colony counts of Lactobacilli was higher in head and neck cancer patients (p<0.05) than in control group. These salivary factors and cariogenic activity can increase the prevalence of dental caries in head and neck cancer patients.

Oncologia de Cabeça e Pescoço: enquadramento epidemiológico e clínico na avaliação da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada com a Saúde / Head and Neck Cancer: Health Related Quality of Life Assessment considering clinical and epidemiological perspectives

A importância das doenças oncológicas como causa de morbilidade e mortalidade está em crescimento, sendo reconhecido o seu impacto social e peso global pelos custos económicos e sociais envolvidos na sua prevenção, tratamento e reabilitação. As patologias oncológicas de cabeça e pescoço representam um dos seis tumores malignos mais prevalentes em todo o mundo, com um valor estimado de 900.000 novos casos diagnosticados anualmente em escala mundial. Estes doentes oncológicos apresentam deterioração de funções básicas que, quando percepcionadas, têm impacto negativo na sua Qualidade de Vida. Um registo oncológico adequado permite uma análise mais rigorosa dos resultados obtidos na avaliação da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada com a Saúde. Este estudo incluiu 380 doentes oncológicos de cabeça e pescoço e demonstra que as mulheres apresentam resultados de Qualidade de Vida globalmente inferiores. Salienta-se ainda a importância do diagnóstico precoce em oncologia, que se relaciona frequentemente com melhores scores e conclui-se que a localização do tumor tem impacto sobre a autopercepção de Qualidade de Vida. Os valores de Qualidade de Vida Relacionada com a Saúde devem ser interpretados à luz das variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas, para melhor se avaliar a Patologia Oncológica de Cabeça e Pescoço numa perspectiva epidemiológica no sentido de melhor compreender o processo saúde - doença.

The importance of oncology diseases as a cause of morbidity and mortality is increasing worldwide, and their social impact is being recognized due to economic and social costs involved in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Head and neck cancer is one of the six most prevalent neoplasms worldwide, with an estimated 900,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Regardless of tumor site, deterioration of basic functions affecting head and neck areas are perceived and affect patients' lives. Appropriate cancer registration may provide a better analysis of health-related quality of life outcomes. In this study, 380 head and neck cancer patients were evaluated. The study showed that women have lower overall Quality of Life results. It also emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, which often relates to stages with better prognosis and better Quality of Life outcomes. The study concluded that tumor location has an impact on Quality of Life self-perception. Values of Health Related Quality of Life should be analyzed along with socio-demographic and clinical variables in order to better understand the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of Head and Neck Cancer.