INFLUENCE OF ANTINEOPLASTIC THERAPY ON FUNCTION OF THE MASTICATORY SYSTEM, TOOTH DEVELOPMENT, AND CARIOGENIC STATUS - A CASE-REPORT

Antineoplastic therapy causes developmental disturbances in the dental enamel and root if children are treated during tooth development. Inc reased caries activity has also been reported. The effect of anticance r therapy on the function of the masticatory system (i.e., jaws, denti tion, masticatory muscles) is not well known. A case report of a 9-yea r-old girl with Fight auricular rhabdomyosarcoma is presented. She rec eived irradiation of 50 Gy to the right auricular area and chemotherap y. A year and a half after cessation of cancer therapy, she was diseas e free and the clinical stomatognathic examination combined with elect romyogram (EMG) registration of the masseter and temporal muscles and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) revealed a strongly restricted mouth opening capacity, pa inful right TMJ, and flattened head of the right mandibular condyle. M uscle atrophy in the right masseter muscle was clearly visible but EMC activities of the masseter and temporal muscles, however, were higher on the right than on the left. More severe developmental defects, and worse gingival and cariological health were observed on the right sid e than on the left side. She developed 12 carious lesions and all the lesions were on the right maxilla or mandible or on anterior teeth. Th e left side was not affected. Intensive prophylactic dental care after cancer treatment is important in order to prevent caries and gingival inflammation. Stomatognathic treatment (i.e., management of occlusal and dysfunctional problems) may improve the mouth opening capacity and relieve pain. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.