A survey of clinicians: prioritization of dental treatment in leukemia patients prior to chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic oral and dental infections that may remain benign and asymptomatic in healthy individuals can develop into serious and life-threatening conditions when leukemia patients undergo chemotherapy. There is a general consensus that elimination of chronic dental and oral infections prior to chemotherapy reduces the risk of serious problems that may require hospitalization. The limited time available for dental treatment prior to chemotherapy forces clinicians to prioritize. The aim of this study was to determine how hospital-based clinicians who routinely see leukemia patients prioritize dental treatment prior to chemotherapy.


METHODS
A survey was conducted that targeted the membership of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics because a large number of these clinicians had first-hand experience in managing leukemia patients.


RESULTS
The consensus was that apical radiolucencies and severe periodontitis must be eliminated. Opinions differed regarding whether and how mild periodontal pathology and caries lesions should be treated.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the surveyed practitioners believed that infectious processes that invade the bone pose the highest risk if left untreated prior to chemotherapy.
Wong
Fong
F
Department of Prosthodontics, Shands Teaching Hospital, University of Florida, PO Box 100435, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. fwong@dental.ufl.edu
Toljanic
Joseph A
JA
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy; D032921:Consensus; D003657:Decision Making; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D016745:Root Planing; D013997:Time Factors; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D014081:Tooth Extraction
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents