1.INTRODUCTION
Hematological malignancies (HM) account for approximately 40% of all childhood malignancies 1. Leukemias constitute the vast majority of childhood HM, and the most common of these is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) 2.Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy (CT), and radiotherapy (RT) are widely used treatments that increase the survival rates of children with HM. CT and RT are first-line treatments, but they have acute and chronic effects on many tissues and organs, which may decrease overall life expectancy and quality of life (QoL)3 . Oral complications, such as mucositis, oral ulcerations, bleeding, hematoma, dysphagia, malnutrition, and infection, which may be life-threatening and affect survival, can occur depending on the nature of the disease, treatment, and existing oral health problems4. Oral health problems negatively affect both children and their parents5 . The oral hygiene status of a child with HM, and the education level and socioeconomic status of the parents, affect the survival and QoL of patients 6. Evaluating oral health, and preventing and treating oral complications, can improve oral function and QoL, and reduce morbidity7. Oral complications during cancer treatment can interrupt the treatment or decrease its effectiveness. Pediatric dentists play an important role in the management of these life-threatening diseases8.
This study aimed to determine the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with HM who underwent RT and CT examinations for various reasons.