ORAL HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS INFECTION IN 100 PATIENTS WITH CANCER: AN EXPERIENCE OF A SINGLE CANCER CENTER

Abstract

Introduction: Oral herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is a common complication in patients with cancer undergoing oncologic treatment. HSV in these patients often has an atypical presentation and can remain unrecognized or misdiagnosed. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of oral HSV in patients with cancer, as well as to determine the specificity of cytology technique for its diagnosis. Medical records of 100 patients with cancer who presented with oral lesions or a clinical diagnosis of oral HSV and had a cytology exam between January 2010 to December 2014 were reviewed. Results: Seventy-two patients had solid tumors and 28 had diseases of hematologic origin. In relation to cancer treatment, 74 patients received chemotherapy, 17 had surgery, 7 underwent radiotherapy, and 2 were taking immunosuppressive drugs. The tongue was the most affected site (31.3%), followed by the palate (20.6%), and the lip (19.3%). Regarding the cytology exam, 36 out of 100 (36.0%) patients had confirmed HSV infection. All patients were treated with systemic acyclovir with complete remission of the oral lesions in a mean time of 5 days. Oral HSV mostly affects patients undergoing chemotherapy, and the tongue was the most common site for viral reactivation in the oral cavity. Cytology was not considered very effective.