Oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation of a patient suffering from intraosseous adenoid cystic carcinoma

ABSTRACT Treatment of cancers of the head and neck may provoke sequelae that affect the quality of life of patients during and after treatment. Mouth-sinus communication resulting from partial or total surgical resection of the palate leads to the patient experiencing dysphagia, dysphonia and trismus, which can lead to social isolation of the individual. As a result, the work of the dental surgeon, together with the multidisciplinary team caring for cancer patients, is fundamental and can help with the diagnosis, assist in the management of chemotherapy and radiotherapy complications and enable postsurgical rehabilitation. The present study reports the case of a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma in the right maxilla, who underwent a partial maxillectomy, the resulting sequela being mouth-sinus communication. The dental treatment was performed at the Hospital of the Federal University of Pelotas preoperatively, during and after treatment. At this time the patient is rehabilitated with an obturator prosthesis and is being monitored by the dental team and the head and neck surgeon.