Injúrias causadas às glândulas salivares pós-radioterapia: revisão de literatura

Abstract

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of most people with head and neck cancer. Despite all the benefits that brings radiotherapy, damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor region are inevitable. The salivary glands, as they are often in the radiation portals are greatly affected due to radiotherapy. Through a literature review, based on 27 articles from 2003 and 5 textbooks, it was observed that the injuries in the salivary glands during and especially after radiotherapy side effects ranging from acute to chronic side effects, affecting the structures of salivary glands. Due to the quantitative and qualitative loss of his salivary flow, frames mucositis, candidiasis, periodontal problems, rampant caries and xerostomia are common diseases in irradiated patients due to head and neck cancer. Xerostomia proved to be the most obvious side effect, often irreversible, significantly affecting the quality of life of these patients.