Radiation necrosis of the mandible: A 10 year study. Part I. Factors influencing the onset of necrosis

Christopher G. Murray, Jay Herson, Thomas E. Daly, Stuart Zimmerman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

157 Scopus citations

Abstract

Of 404 patients who were irradiated for cancer in the oral region between 1971 and 1975, 19.1 % developed radiation necrosis of the mandible. Three main effects, anatomic tumor site, tumor dose, and dental status, were found to have a statistically significant effect on incidence of necrosis. Necrosis was also found to occur more frequently in association with an implant than with treatment administered by an external radiation source alone. The T-stage of the tumor did not appear to affect the incidence of necrosis. Necrosis incidence was also studied over two time periods- 1966-1%9 (study I) and 1971-1975 (study II). Differences between the two periods were found in the primary etiological groupings. Necrosis attributed to spontaneous or unknown cause increased in the second study, while that associated with dental extractions before irradiation decreased. Fewer teeth were extracted before radiation therapy in study If than in study 1. Less necrosis followed mandibular surgery for recurrent disease in study II than study 1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)543-548
Number of pages6
JournalInternational journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1980
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dental oncology
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Mandible
  • Osteoradionecrosis
  • Radiotherapy complications

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

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