CLINICAL, CYTOLOGICAL, AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS OF DENTURE-BEARING ORAL MUCOSA IN WOMEN WITH CERVICAL CANCER USING REMOVABLE DENTURES: A RETROSPECTIVE CLINICAL CASE SERIES

Background:Cervical cancer remains among the most common malignant neoplasms affecting women worldwide. In addition to systemic complications, both the disease itself and its treatment may induce significant pathological alterations within the oral cavity. Patients using removable dentures are particularly susceptible to inflammatory and dystrophic changes of the denture-bearing mucosa due to chronic mechanical irritation, immune dysfunction, and treatment-related toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical, cytological, and histopathological characteristics of denture-bearing oral mucosa in women with cervical cancer. Methods:A retrospective clinical case series was conducted involving 17 women diagnosed with cervical cancer who used complete or partial removable dentures. Clinical examination, cytological assessment, and histopathological evaluation were performed according to standardized diagnostic protocols. Oral manifestations, denture-related factors, and microscopic tissue alterations were analyzed. Results:The mean age of the patients was 63.4 ± 6.8 years. The most frequent clinical findings included diffuse erythema (88.2%), chronic inflammation (88.2%), xerostomia (82.4%), edema (76.5%), vascular abnormalities (76.5%), hyperkeratosis (58.8%), and epithelial atrophy (52.9%). Cytological examination demonstrated epithelial degeneration, neutrophilic infiltration, and parakeratosis. Histopathological analysis revealed acanthosis, parakeratosis, basal cell degeneration, chronic lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, vascular congestion, and connective tissue fibrosis. No cytological or histopathological evidence of malignant transformation was identified. Conclusions:Women with cervical cancer using removable dentures frequently present with inflammatory, vascular, and dystrophic alterations of the denture-bearing mucosa. These changes most likely result from combined effects of malignant disease, anticancer therapy, salivary dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and chronic mechanical irritation associated with removable prostheses. Multidisciplinary management is essential to reduce complications and improve oral health-related quality of life.