Modern trends in prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of oncological diseases of the maxillofacial region

Currently, oncological diseases of the oral mucosa and the maxillofacial region are characterized by a high prevalence rate, necessitating timely diagnosis and the improvement of their medical and social rehabilitation. The priority objective in this regard is to reduce morbidity and mortality while enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients through proven, evidence-based measures in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, as well as through the identification of specific risk groups. Improving care for patients with oncological diseases requires effective interaction between the patient and the healthcare facility, and, on the part of specialists, the implementation of innovative technologies. The advancements in global medical science are accompanied by the emergence of new communication opportunities linked to artificial intelligence systems. These systems have demonstrated highly effective results in the early diagnosis of precancerous conditions, as well as in organizing treatment and preventive measures for patients with disabilities residing in remote areas, thereby increasing the rate of early patient referrals. Meanwhile, one effective method for detecting precancerous and cancerous conditions is the screening program. In the Russian Federation, however, developed screening programs are not widely implemented within the country’s practical healthcare system. Nevertheless, the unresolved issues concerning the early diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of oncological diseases of the maxillofacial region underscore the need for further research. Such research, aimed at finding clinically effective methods and tools, represents a pressing issue in clinical dentistry.

1. Gorbatova E.A., Kozlova M.V., Lobacheva E.V. Detection of maliginization processes in precancerous lesions in the oral mucous. Kremlin Medicine Journal. 2020;(3):33–37. (In Russ.) Available at: https://kremlin-medicine.ru/index.php/km/article/view/1494 (accessed: 01.02.2026).

2. Mukhanov A. A. Prevention of malignant tumors of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. Nauchnyi Elektronnyi Zhurnal Meridian. 2020;(2):153–155. (In Russ.)

3. Merabishvili V.M., Solovyev V.I., Luzhetskiy V.A., Vasilyev A.B., Merabishvili E.N., Chepik O.F. Epidemiology and survival of patients with malignant tumors of the nasal cavity, middle ear and accessory sinuses according to the stage of disease and histological structure of tumors. Siberian Journal of Oncology. 2016;15(4):5–13. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21294/1814-4861-2016-15-4-5-13

4. Afanasyeva L.N., Klimova T.M., Alexandrova O.Yu., Kogonia L.M., Nikolaeva T.I., Belolyubskaya T.E. et al. Screening of malignant neoplasms in the population of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Yakut Medical Journal. 2022;(4):48–51. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25789/YMJ.2022.80.13

5. Krikheli N.I., Pozdniakova T.I., Bulgakova N.N., Prokudina E.Yu. Results of autofluorescence somatoscope lichen planus as a screening method for detecting pre-cancerous and cancerous changes of the oral mucosa. Russian Journal of Stomatology. 2016;9(4):13–17. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17116/rosstomat20169413-17

6. Lunitsyna Yu.V., Ziablitskaia K.V., Tokmakova S.I., Bondarenko O.V., Chudova L.V., Shteinke E.A. Methods of diagnosis and treatment of oral mucosal leukoplakia (literature review). Actual Problems in Dentistry. 2022;18(3):49–56. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18481/2077-7566-2022-18-3-49-56

7. Lukina G.I., Abramova M.Ya., Belyaeva Yu.G. Comprehensive methods in the treatment of precancerous oral mucosal diseases. Russian Journal of Stomatology. 2020;13(3):34–35. (In Russ.)

8. Matulić N., Bago I., Sušić M., Gjorgievska E., Kotarac Knežević A., Gabrić D. Comparison of Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG laser in the treatment of oral leukoplakia lesions refractory to the local retinoid therapy. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019;37(6):362–368. https://doi.org/10.1089/photob.2018.4560

9. Selvam N.P., Sadaksharam J., Singaravelu G., Ramu R. Treatment of oral leukoplakia with photodynamic therapy: A pilot study. J Cancer Res Ther. 2015;11(2):464–467. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1482.147703

10. Likhacheva D.S., Soloviev V.I. The need to develop skills in the diagnosis of oral tumors in dental students. Smolensk Medical Almanac. 2020;(4):88–92. (In Russ.) Лихачева Д.С., Соловьев В.И. О необходимости формирования навыков ранней диагностики опухолей полости рта у студентов стоматологов. Смоленский медицинский альманах. 2020;(4):88–92.

11. Shihadeh A., Saleh R. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, “tar”, and nicotine in the mainstream smoke aerosol of the narghile water pipe. Food Chem Toxicol. 2005;43(5):655–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2004.12.013

12. Rana M., Gellrich N.C., Rana M. Comparison of health-related quality of life of patients with different precancer and oral cancer stages. Clin Oral Investig. 2015;19(2):481–488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-014-1265-7

13. Celik A., Diler S.B., Eke D. Assessment of genetic damage in buccal epithelium cells of painters: micronucleus, nuclear changes, and repair index. DNA Cell Biol. 2010;29(6):277–284. https://doi.org/10.1089/dna.2009.0996

14. Dzhuraeva Sh.F., Chistenko G.N., Terekhova T.N., Ikonnikova A.V. Oral cancer: risk factors and screening. Sovremennaya Stomatologiya. 2020;(2):3–7. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.mednovosti.by/journal.aspx?article=9050 (accessed: 17.02.2026).

15. Postnikov M.A., Gabrielyan A.G., Trunin D.A., Kaganov O.I., Kirillova V.P., Khamadeeva A.M. et al. Refinement of non-invasive methods for diagnosing precancer and cancer of oral mucosa in general dental practice. Bulletin of Russian State Medical University. 2021;(1):65–71. https://doi.org/10.24075/brsmu.2021.005

16. Mikhalev D.E., Baydik O.D., Mukhamedov M.R., Sysolyatin P.G. Prevalence and organization problems of medical care to patients with precanceral oral cavity mucosa diseases (on the Tomsk Region example). Head and Neck Tumors. 2022;12(1):79–85. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17650/2222-1468-2022-12-1-79-85

17. Nosratzehi T. Oral lichen planus: an overview of potential risk factors, biomarkers and treatments. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018;19(5):1161–1167. https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.5.1161

18. Lim Y., Totsika M., Morrison M., Punyadeera C. Oral microbiome: a new biomarker reservoir for oral and oropharyngeal cancers. Theranostics. 2017;7(17):4313–4321. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.21804

19. Gazhva S.I., Stepanyan T.B., Goryacheva T.P. Prevalence of stomatologic diseases of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and their diagnostics. International Journal of Applied and Fundamental Research. 2014;(5-1):41–44. (In Russ.) Available at: https://applied-research.ru/article/view?id=5273 (accessed: 17.02.2026).

20. Kukushkin V.L., Sokolova E.N., Kukushkina E.A. Epidemiological aspects of mucosal diseases of oral cavity. Transbaikalian Medical Bulletin. 2013;(1):156–159. (In Russ.)

21. Aleksandrova G.A., Polikarpov A.V., Golubev N.A., Ogryzko E.V., Kadulina N.A., Belyaeva I.M. et al. Socially significant diseases of the population of Russia in 2016: statistical materials. Moscow; 2016. 64 p. (In Russ.) Available at: https://mednet.ru/images/materials/CMT/szz_2016.pdf (accessed: 01.02.2026).

22. Soloviev M.M. Cancer of the oral mucosa and tongue (reserves for improving the results of treatment). Practical Oncology. 2003;4(1):31–37. (In Russ.) Available at: https://rosoncoweb.ru/library/journals/practical_oncology/arh013/05.pdf (accessed: 17.02.2026).

23. Pushalkar S., Ji X., Li Y., Estilo C., Yegnanarayana R., Singh B. et al. Comparison of oral microbiota in tumor and non-tumor tissues of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Microbiol. 2012;12(1):144. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-12-144

24. Shukhorova Yu.A., Tkach T.M., Burakshaev S.A., Postnikov M.A. Cancer awareness in the practice of a dentist at an outpatient appointment. Institut Stomatologii. 2020;(3):20–22. (In Russ.) Available at: https://instom.spb.ru/catalog/article/15283/?view=pdf (accessed: 17.02.2026).

25. Rykhlevich A.A., Sandakov Ya.P. Malignant and potentially malignant diseases of the oral cavity, problems and methods of their detection (overview). Health care Standardization Problems. 2021;(9-10):26–33. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26347/1607-2502202109-10026-033

26. Rybak O.G., Luchsheva L.F., Kravchenko V.A. Autofluorescence stomatoscopy – a method for examining the condition of the oral mucosa. Public Health of the Far East. 2019;(4):40–42. (In Russ.)

27. Trizna N., Kaliadich Z., Zhaleika E., Evmenenko A. Dynamics of quality of life of patients as a method for evaluating surgical treatment outcome in oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Oncology and Radiology of Kazakhstan. 2021;(1):31–35.

28. Naumova V.N., Turkina S.V., Maslak E.E. Association between oral and general diseases: review of the literature. Volgograd Journal of Medical Research. 2016;(2):25–28. (In Russ.) Available at: https://old.volgmed.ru/uploads/journals/articles/1483040854-bulletin-2016-2-2783.pdf (accessed: 17.02.2026).

29. Zharkova I.V., Kabirova M.F. Condition of hemodynamics of the mucous membrane of the mouth and periodontium in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Parodontologiya. 2018;23(2):43–45. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25636/PMP.1.2018.2.7

30. Trizna N., Zhukavets A., Kaliadzich Zh. Medical rehabilitation of patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. Oncological Journal. 2021;15(1):57–62. (In Russ.)

31. Soldatova Yu.A., Bulgakov A.I., Gantseva Kh.Kh., Khismatullina F.R. Investigation of the effect of smoking on oral health indicators and the relationship amount of carbon monoxide from smoking experience. Parodontologiya. 2016;21(1):26–29. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.parodont.ru/jour/article/view/224 (accessed: 17.02.2026).

32. Rizaev Zh.A., Gafurov G.A. The impact of somatic pathology on dental health. Parodontologiya. 2017;22(1):11–14. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.parodont.ru/jour/article/view/155 (accessed: 17.02.2026).

33. Edelman M.J. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in earlystage non-small cell lung cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2001;1(2):229–235. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737140.1.2.229

34. Sepetdjian E., Abdul Halim R., Salman R., Jaroudi E., Shihadeh A., Saliba N.A. Phenolic compounds in particles of mainstream waterpipe smoke. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013;15(6):1107–1112. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nts255

35. Brennan M.T., Madsen L.S., Saunders D.P., Napenas J.J., McCreary C., Ni Riordain R. et al. Efficacy and safety of a novel mucoadhesive clobetasol patch for treatment of erosive oral lichen planus: A phase 2 randomized clinical trial. J Oral Pathol Med. 2022;51(1):86–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/jop.13270

36. Karpenko A.V., Sibgatullin R.R., Boyko A.A., Kostova M.G., Nikolayeva O.M., Trunin E.M. Dynamics of quality of life of head and neck cancer patients after treatment. Clinical significance. Head and Neck Tumors. 2018;8(4):39–47. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17650/2222-1468-2018-8-4-39-47

37. Pursanova A.E., Kazarina L.N., Gulyan U.G., Serkhel E.V. Evaluation of effectiveness of treatment of precancerous diseases of the oral mucosa with autofluorescence diagnostics. Modern Problems of Science and Education. 2018;(4):151. (In Russ.) Available at: https://science-education.ru/article/view?id=27754 (accessed: 17.02.2026).

38. Maksimovskaia L.N., Abramova M.Ya., Erk A.A. Implementation of the national program of cancer screening of oral precancerous and oncological diseases in the Russian Federation. Stomatology. 2019;98(4):44–47. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17116/stomat20199804144

39. Dalirsani Z., Seyyedi S.A. Treatment of Plaque-like oral lichen planus with CO 2 laser. Indian J Dermatol. 2021;66(6):698–703. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijd.ijd_1170_20

40. Kosheleva I.V., Shadyzheva L.I., Pereverzina N.O., Klivitskaya N.A. Plasmatherapy: methods and fields of application. Lechaschi Vrach. 2018;(1):59. (In Russ.) Available at: https://journal.lvrach.ru/jour/article/view/435 (accessed: 17.02.2026).

41. Chissov V.I., Daryalova S.L. (eds). Oncology. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media; 2007. 560 p. (In Russ.) Available at: https://djvu.online/file/6U3Jn57kn5pga (accessed: 17.02.2026).

42. Coughlin A., Resto V.A. Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and the clinically n0 neck: the past, present, and future of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Curr Oncol Rep. 2010;12(2):129–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-010-0090-7

43. Aliyeva G.H., Damirchiyeva M.V., Kerimli N.K. Overview of prevention methods of oral leukoplakia. Vestnik Nauki i Obrazovaniya. 2021;(6-1):85–88. (In Russ.) Available at: https://scientificjournal.ru/images/PDF/2021/109/obzor-metodov-profilak.pdf (accessed: 17.02.2026).

44. Tesevich L.I., Sosnovskaya L.A. Tactical aspects of diagnostics and cancer vigilance in case of treatment of precancer diseases of the oral cavity mucous membrane, lips and skin of maxillofacial area taking into account dynamics of the index of coincidence frequency beforeand postoperative diagnoses. Dentistry. Aesthetics. Innovations. 2018;2(2):266–275. (In Russ.)

45. Sandakova D.Ts. From precancer to cancer: just one step. In: Pinelis I.S. (ed.) Clinical cases of oral cancer diagnosis. theory and practice of modern dentistry: collection of scientific papers of the regional scientificpractical conference of dentists, Chita, May 20, 2022. Chita: Chita State Medical Academy; 2022, pp. 241–245. (In Russ.)

46. Varakina A.S. Factors increasing the risk of oral cancer. In: Ivanovskaya I.I., Posnova M.V. (eds) Science, society, culture: problems and prospects of interaction in the modern world: collection of articles of the 6 th All-Russian scientific and practical conference, Petrozavodsk, January 6, 2022. Petrozavodsk: Novaya nauka; 2022, pp. 251–255. (In Russ.)