Radiotherapy, alone or associated with surgery or chemotherapy, produces a significant increase in cure rates for many malignancies of the head and neck region. However, high doses of radiation in large areas, including the oral mucosa, may result in several undesired reactions that manifest during or after the completion of therapy. The multidisciplinary management is the best alternative to minimize or even prevent such reactions, and the dentist has a fundamental role in this context. This paper reviews the literature related to the main oral sequelae from head and neck radiotherapy and establishes clinical oral management protocol for these irradiated patients.

A 35 years-old male patient was referred to your Institution due to a nodule on the palate with more than 15 years of evolution. In general physical examination noticed the presence of papules and café au lait (coffee with milk) pigmentation in many parts of the body. Intra oral examination found a swelling in the hard palate and resilient on palpation, asymptomatic with three centimeters of diameter. Incisional biopsy was performed and the diagnosis was neurofibroma. Complete resection of the lesion was performed confirming the initial diagnosis. The general clinical findings and the presence of neurofibroma confirmed the diagnosis of Von Recklinghausen's disease. This paper emphasizes the important role of the dentist in diagnostic and follow-up of the Von Recklinghausen's disease.

Un paciente hombre de 35 años de edad fue remitido a la Institución, debido a un nódulo en el paladar con más de 15 años de evolución. En el examen físico general, notaron la presencia de pápulas y pigmentaciones café au lait (café con leche) en muchas partes del cuerpo. Al examen oral intra se encontró un aumento de volúmen en el paladar duro resistente a la palpación, asintomático, con tres centímetros de diámetro. Se realizó la biopsia incisional, y el diagnóstico fue neurofibroma. La resección completa de la lesión confirma el diagnóstico inicial. Las conclusiones clínicas generales y la presencia de neurofibroma confirmó el diagnóstico de la enfermedad de Von Recklinghausen. Este trabajo destaca el importante papel del odontólogo en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de la enfermedad de Von Recklinghausen.

Sialocele is a subcutaneous cavity containing saliva, caused by trauma or infection in the parotid gland parenchyma, laceration of the parotid duct or ductal stenosis with subsequent dilatation. It is characterized by an asymptomatic soft and mobile swelling on the parotid region. Imaging studies are useful and help establishing the diagnosis, such as sialography, ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This paper describes a recurrent case of a parotid sialocele in a young female patient. She presented a 6 cm x 5 cm swelling on the left parotid region. The ultrasonographic scan of the area revealed a hypoechoic ovoid well defined image suggesting a cyst. A sialography of the left parotid showed a cavitary sialectasia in a panoramic and anteroposterior view. A conservative management was adopted by percutaneous needle aspiration of the swelling, which was useful to provide material for analysis and helped healing. Dentists should be aware of this pathology and the importance in adopting a conservative treatment whenever it is possible.