What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated factors associated with osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible bone by reviewing medical records of a large cohort of oral cancer patients.
What They Found
Out of 1692 oral cancer patients, 105 (6.2%) developed ORN of the mandible bone. Factors associated with ORN included primary tumor site (mouth floor, buccal mucosa, retromolar trigone, or gum), segmental mandibulectomy, and total radiation dose of 75 Gy or more. Aggressive treatment, including surgery with or without hyperbaric oxygen, led to complete healing in 93.3% of affected patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian oral cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy should be aware of the risk factors for osteoradionecrosis, such as specific tumor locations or high radiation doses. Early recognition and aggressive treatment, including surgery, offer a high chance of complete healing for this complication.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective review of medical records, this study may be limited by the completeness and accuracy of existing data.