Oral mucositis in cancer patients: the effect of oral supplementation

shutterstock_74662099 zinc

This review of of the effects of oral supplementation on the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy included 12 RCTs and suggest that Zinc supplements may be beneficial.

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Dental visits and head and neck cancer

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This review of a link between past dental visits/check-ups and the incidence cancers of head and neck includes 38 studies the majority of which are case-controlled studies. The findings suggest that those are irregular of never attenders are more likely to have head and neck cancer.

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Oral Cancer: Elective or therapeutic neck dissection?

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This review of neck dissection (END) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity and clinically N0 neck included 6 studies suggesting fewer recurrences with END, but the evidence of very low quality.

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Mouth and throat cancer: evidence for best surgical approaches uncertain

Bariatric surgery and marked weight loss is likely to improve knee complaints but there is a need for high quality studies

12 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review update of surgical approches for the management of oral and pharyngeal cancer. The certaintly of the evidence was very low as there were limited numbers of studies for each comparison.

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Oral lichen planus: Rate of malignant transformation

Lichen_planusWickham's

This review of the malignant transformation rate (TR) of oral lichen planus included 21 observational studies the majority of which were retrospective. The overall estimate of TR was 1.4%.

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Oral potentially malignant disorders – how common are they?

Leukoplakia02-04-06

This review of the prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders included 22 observational studies providing a pooled estimate for prevalence of 4.47% (95% CI;2.43-7.08).

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Potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity: Evaluation guideline

By Aitor III (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

This new clinical practice guideline from the American Dental Association (ADA) updates the 2010 guideline on “Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations Regarding Screening for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

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Sexual behaviours and oral cancer risk

The treatment effects seemed more pronounced in women, young people and first attempters of suicide.

20 studies reporting 21 data sets were included in this review of the association of sexual behaviours and oral and oropharyngeal cancers. The review suggests that some sexual behaviours increase risk but the quality of the evidence is limited and quantitative estimates of the strength of these associations are not reliable.

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Oral mucositis in cancer patients: no benefit from chlorhexidine mouthwash

shutterstock_20760106 - mouthwash

This review of chlorhexidine (CHX) for prevention & treatment of oral mucositis included 12 RCTs with 9 contribution to the meta-analysis. CHX was not significantly effective in preventing mucositis or reducing its severity.

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