Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2005 Aug;13(4):217-21.
doi: 10.1097/01.moo.0000170527.59017.ff.

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible

Affiliations
Review

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible

Marita S Teng et al. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible is a serious complication of radiation therapy to the head and neck. Given the increased use of radiation therapy and combined chemotherapy-radiation therapy regimens in treatment of head and neck malignancies, it is anticipated that osteoradionecrosis will continue to be an important clinical problem. Recently, new concepts have been introduced regarding the pathogenesis of osteoradionecrosis, and these ideas help outline new guidelines for treatment.

Recent findings: Current literature focuses on the probability of a fibroatrophic mechanism for the development of osteoradionecrosis, rather than the traditional vascular insufficiency mechanism. Because of the evolution of this new idea, as well as a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study finding no benefit from the use of hyperbaric oxygen for advanced osteoradionecrosis of the mandible, new treatment considerations have emerged. Ongoing research is also being conducted to clarify the role of osteoclasts in the pathogenesis of osteoradionecrosis. Restoration of blood supply or vascularized tissue to the affected area continues to be of primary importance in the resolution of osteoradionecrosis.

Summary: It is clear that the cause and pathogenesis of osteoradionecrosis are far more complex than originally believed. Current and future research on this multifaceted topic will focus on the cellular basis of this condition, because as it is elucidated, more effective medical treatment regimens will become evident.

PubMed Disclaimer

LinkOut - more resources