Oral Cancer and Complications of Cancer Therapies

Problematic oral changes can affect more than oral health, and healthcare professionals should consider individuals' oral health in their overall patient care plans. The purpose of this course is to define oral cancer and briefly explain its diagnostic criteria as well as discuss the changes experienced within the oral environment after the treatments for oral and systemic cancers are initiated. In addition, members of the public may use this course to enhance their personal knowledge of the subject matter presented.


Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:


1. Identify the most common etiologies of oral cancer and its incidence within the population.

2. Review the basic histology of the oral mucosa and the changes that occur with premalignant and malignant lesions and their patterns of occurrence.

3. Compare and contrast erythroplakic lesions and leukoplakic lesions.

4. Distinguish among the varied diagnostic procedures for suspicious oral lesions and the classification and staging of those that are found to be malignant.

5. Review the principles of and the complications from radiotherapy utilized postsurgically for patients with oral cancer.

6. List dental procedures that should be completed before surgery and radiotherapy that can minimize oral complications after the completion of these treatment modalities.

7. Explain the basic principles by which chemo­therapeutic agents exert their cytotoxic effect.

8. Discuss the serious chemotherapy-induced infections of oral origin that can be disseminated systemically.

9. List other common oral effects of chemotherapy.


This 5-hour continuing education course is available for download for professional development; if continuing education credit is desired, please see instructions included in eBook.