Abstract
BackgroundRadiation-related caries (RRC) can cause rapid progression, with a high potential for dental destruction affecting mainly cervical and incisal areas. Unlike the injuries that occur in the conventional caries, incipient RRC present in unusual surfaces have difficult diagnosis and classification stages of cavitation.Material and MethodsEvaluate the radiographic patterns of demineralization of RRC by using micro-CT. Ten teeth with incipient RRC and 10 teeth with incipient conventional caries (control group) matched by anatomic teeth group and caries affected surfaces were evaluated by X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) Skyscan 1174V2 (50Kv, 1.3 megapixel, Kontich, Belgium). Teeth were placed in a standard position for micro-CT (coronal, transaxial and sagittal sections) during images acquisition. Lesions were classified according to the depth of invasion and relationship with enamel, dentin and pulp.ResultsRRC samples presented deeper lesions with higher involvement of enamel and dentin. Control group presented focal and superficial lesions with lower involvement of enamel and dentin.ConclusionsIncipient RRC present aggressive microtomographic patterns of demineralization when compared to conventional caries, as indicated by deep lesions, regardless of its clinically incipient aspects. Key words:Head and neck cancer, radiotherapy, microtomography, radiation caries.
Highlights
400,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed annually worldwide, most of which will be treated by the combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, a therapeutic combination that has been able to improve survival rates for these patients during the last decade
Ity of life, the pathogenesis of Radiation-related caries (RRC) is still unclear and only a few studies focused on a better understanding of the clinical, pathological, radiographic and molecular mechanisms associated with the onset and progression of RRC [1,13,14]
The macroscopic profile of the samples evaluated in the present study is in accordance with previous reports for clinical aspects of incipient RRC [5]
Summary
400,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed annually worldwide, most of which will be treated by the combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, a therapeutic combination that has been able to improve survival rates for these patients during the last decade. The current study presents the microtomographic aspects of clinically incipient RRC, aiming to contribute to better understanding of carious development in patients who have undergone HNRDT.
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