RASTREIO DE NEOPLASIAS MALIGNAS: ÍNDICE DE LESÕES ORAIS E MAXILOFACIAIS EM PACIENTES ATENDIDOS NO CENTRO REGIONAL DE REFERÊNCIA EM ESPECIALIDADES DA SAÚDE (CRRES) DE BARRA DO GARÇAS - MT

Abstract

Oral cancer, or mouth cancer, represents one of the most pressing global public health issues due to its significant impact on the quality of life and survival of affected patients. The objective of this study is to analyze the epidemiology of oral cancer, identify the main risk factors, evaluate prevention and early diagnosis strategies, and emphasize the role of the dentist through a multidisciplinary approach. The study adopted an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive design, developed during a social initiative held in the second half of 2024 at the Regional Reference Center for Health Specialties (CRRES) in Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso. With the participation of 35 individuals over 18 years of age, data collection involved a simplified medical history, covering information on smoking, alcohol consumption, and clinical history, as well as extraoral and intraoral physical examinations to detect tissue changes suggestive of malignancy. During screening, it was found that 28% of participants presented clinical symptoms indicating professional follow-up. Furthermore, the most recurrent lesions were lymphadenopathy (30%) and lingual hyperplasia (20%), which, in turn, highlights the need for regular and systematic screening exams for the early detection of oral lesions. The conclusion is that prevention and diagnostic strategies are urgently needed, especially targeting men, who are at higher risk of potentially malignant neoplasms and have lower adherence to dental care. The study reinforces that dentists play a central role in detecting oral cancer, and that a multidisciplinary approach is essential to optimize clinical management, improving prognosis and enhancing patients' quality of life.