An evaluation on the etiology and clinical characteristics of oral lesions in cancerous patients after chemotherapy, Mashhad Immam Reza hospital

An evaluation on the etiology and clinical characteristics of oral lesions in cancerous patients after chemotherapy, Mashhad Immam Reza hospital Dr. Z. Atai* - Dr. A. Javadzadeh** - Dr. MM. Koshyar*** - Dr. M. Khaje Karamodini**** *- Assistant Professor of Oral Diseases & Diagnosis Dept. - Faculty of Dentistry - Kerman University of Medical Sciences. **-Associate Professor of Oral Diseases & Diagnosis Dept.- Faculty of Dentistry-Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. ***- Assistant Professor of Oncology Dept. Faculty of Medicine - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. ****-Assistant Professor of Microbiology Dept. Faculty of Medicine - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Background and Aim: The patients with cancer are predispose local and general infection including oral infection. The goal of this six-month study was to evaluate the etiology and clinical characteristics of oral lesions in cancerous patients, admitted at the Hematology – Oncology ward of Mashhad Imman Reza Hospital. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for six months on 14 cancerous patients who underwent chemotherapy for the first time. In order to diagnose the etiologic factor, in addition to clinical features, cytological examinations and microbial culture were also used. Statistical evaluations were conducted using SPSS software and Chi 2 test. Results: Oral lesions were found in a total number of 14 patients, 9 were candidial and 6 were herpetic (one of the patients was affected with both lesions). Bacterial lesions were not observed among all cases. This study showed that candidia was the causative agent of 64.2% of oral infections among patients under chemotherapy and statistically significant relationship was found between bacterial infection with fever, leucopenia and broad spectrum of antibiotic therapy, (P<0.05). Moreover, 42.9% of the lesions were caused by H.S.V with a significant relationship between this infection and fever. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, candidial and herpectic infections are major causative agents of oral lesions among patients under chemotherapy. Clinical views of candidal lesions was in the form of a white and diffuse plaque and that of herpetic lesions was as localized and unilateral large ulcer with raised white border. The absence of bacterial infections can be attributed to broad spectrum of antibiotic therapy or possibly laboratory errors. Key words: Cancer – Chemotherapy – Oral manifestation