title: Late Effects of Head and Neck Radiotherapy on Pulp Vitality Assessed by Pulse Oximetry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation therapy (RT) of malignant tumors in the head and neck area may have damaging effects on surrounding tissues. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on pulp vitality by measuring pulp oxygenation levels (%SpO2) in patients with history of RT of intraoral and oropharyngeal tumors 4-6 years after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an experimental group RT (n = 90, history of RT) and a control group CON (n = 90, no history of RT), pulp vitality was assessed by measuring %SpO2 by using pulse oximetry and pulp sensitivity by cold thermal testing. All anterior teeth without history of endodontic therapy of the participants in group RT were measured (n = 693), regardless of the quadrant and the irradiated area. An equal number of anterior teeth were tested in group CON.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the %SpO2 levels in group RT (92.7%; standard deviation, ± 1.83) and group CON (92.6%; standard deviation, ± 1.80). All teeth in RT and CON groups showed a positive response to the thermal test. All tested teeth were considered vital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulp %SpO2 was found to be within normal limits 4-6 years after RT. This suggests that RT may not have a long-term influence on pulp vitality, and reported short-term changes in pulpal microcirculation because of RT may be temporary.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Endodontics, Department of Esthetic Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: simonykataoka@usp.br.
authors.forename: Simony Hidee Hamoy
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Setzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Eudes
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gondim-Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Sirio-Libanês Hospital, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Rodrigues
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Fregnani
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Sirio-Libanês Hospital, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Joffily P
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Centro Universitário do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oscar Faciola
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Endodontics, Department of Esthetic Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gavini
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Endodontics, Department of Esthetic Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso Luiz
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Caldeira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Blood flow; cancer; dental pulp; microcirculation; pulse oximetry; radiotherapy