Evaluation of Salivary Flow Rate in Patients undergoing Chemotherapy for Solid Tumors.

Chemotherapy for cancer treatment offers the possibility of eradicating neoplastic cells, however, its use can result in systemic and oral adverse effects, with emphasis on the qualitative-quantitative modification of saliva. To evaluate the stimulated salivary flow rate (SFR) in patients undergoing chemotherapy for treatment of solid malignancies. This was a cross-sectional study with twenty patients diagnosed with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy with cytotoxic drugs. Subjects were submitted to stimulated sialometry in the 1st cycle of chemotherapy (baseline, 7th day and 14th day). Additionally, sociodemographic data regarding these patients were collected in a standardized questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were performed, with a significance level of p<0.05. There was a predominance of women (75%) aged over 40 years old (90%). The most prevalent tumor location was breast (55%), followed by ovaries (15%), and the most used drug was cyclophosphamide (50%). In the sample, no statistically significant result was observed with regard to SFR (p>0.05) in the studied periods. The data suggest that the 1st cycle of chemotherapy was not able to induce significant changes in the SFR. New studies need to be performed for the prospective identification of potential changes in salivary parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]