Diagnostic delay of oral squamous cell carcinoma and the fear of diagnosis: A scoping review.

The mortality rate of patients affected with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been stable in recent decades due to several factors, especially diagnostic delay, which is often associated with a late stage diagnosis and poor prognosis. The aims of this paper were to: analyze diagnostic delay in OSCC and to discuss the various psychological factors of patients with OSCC, with particular attention to the patient’s fear of receiving news regarding their health; and the professional dynamics related to the decision-making processes in cases of suspected OSCC. A preliminary review of literature focusing on OSCC diagnostic delay was performed. Seven articles were included with the diagnosti…

The Humanization of Health Care: In-Depth Knowledge Regarding the Ethics of Dental Care in Oncological Patients

This chapter provides an illuminating insight into the processes of the humanization of care in order to increase specialist knowledge regarding the nature of the doctor-patient relationship. It will deal with the notion of care and its various aspects, including the existential dimension of the process of caregiving by means of a narrative (storytelling) interview. After a brief analysis of the changes which have affected medical science in past centuries, the focus of the paper will be directed to the remarkable transformation which clinical practice has undergone, by virtue of which the concept of the taking care of the patient has gained increasing attention. Thus, care can be provided …

Ozone Infiltration for Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Therapy: A Case Series

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious adverse reaction, mainly due to bone-modifying agents (BMA), and it is a potentially painful and debilitating condition. To date, the literature has reported a 90% rate of successful outcomes for MRONJ patients undergoing surgical treatment. Particularly for patients with advanced disease stages who are unsuitable for surgery, prolonged medical treatment is required, with a consequent risk of the overuse of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency and safety of ozone, via oral mucosal infiltrations, in seven cancer patients with MRONJ, who are not eligible for surgery. The prot…

Oral squamous cell carcinoma mimicking osteonecrosis of the jaw: a case report