2012 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 52-56
Malignant tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region account for 1 to 2% of all carcinomas, and the mental and physical burdens associated with such tumors are major problems for patients. Intractable pain is often present, in patients in advanced or terminal stage and we frequently encounter patients in whom the administration of drugs contraindicated. A clinical evaluation regarding the pain control in patients at our institution with such tumors was conducted. A total of 37 patients (17 men and 20 women)with a malignant tumor of the oral and maxillofacial region, in whom pain control was attempted in our department and the Palliative Care Department between 2005 and March 2010, was evaluated. The patients' age ranged from 51 to 96 years, with a median of 71.8 years. Their outcomes were: death due to or by the primary disease (n = 26), survival with tumor (n = 7), and unknown (n = 3). The number of opioid rotations was zero to four, with an average of 1.56. Six patients had pathological jaw bone fractures. Hypercalcemia was seen in 14 patients; of these, nine patients received zoledronate, two received calcitonin, and three received pamidronate disodium.
