Dental developmental complications in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients: A study using CMC clinical data warehouse

by Jaehyun Kim, Hee Jin Lim, Ja Hyeong Ku, Yoon-Ah Kook, Nack-Gyun Chung, Yoonji Kim

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and extent of dental developmental complications in patients who have undergone pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) and identify the risk factors.

We retrospectively investigated the clinical data warehouse of the Catholic Medical Center information system for identifying patients who: 1) visited the Department of Pediatrics between 2009 and 2019, 2) underwent SCT under the age of 10, and 3) had panoramic radiographs. Thus 153 patients were included in this study. The prevalence and extent of tooth agenesis, microdontia, and root malformation were assessed using panoramic radiographs obtained after SCT, and the risk factors were analyzed using regression analysis.

All 153 patients had at least one dental anomaly. When grouped according to the age at initial chemotherapy (≤ 2.5; 2.6–5.0; 5.1–7.5; > 7.5 years), the prevalence of agenesis showed statistically significant differences among the different age groups (P < 0.001). The prevalence of agenesis was highest in the youngest age group. As the initial age at chemotherapy increased, the number of affected teeth per patient decreased for all three anomalies. The location of the affected tooth was also influenced by the age at initial chemotherapy. Regression analysis demonstrated that young age at initial chemotherapy was a risk-increasing factor for tooth agenesis and microdontia.

The age at initial chemotherapy may be a critical factor in determining the type, extent, and location of dental complications after SCT. These results suggest that careful dental follow-up and timely treatment are recommended for pediatric patients undergoing SCT.