Osteoradionecrosis Flashcards
Describe radiotherapy as a management method for head and neck cancers
- Most commonly used in conjunction with surgery
- Can be used alone but usually in palliative setting
- Kills cancer cells and normal cells in field of radiation
What is osteoradionecrosis?
Exposed irradiated bone that fails to heal over a period of 3 months excluding areas of residual or recurrent tumour
Describe when the risk of ORN is at its greatest
- Radiation dose > 60 Gy
- From 10 days before to several years after surgery
- Malnourished / Immunocompromised patients
Describe the aetiology of ORN
- More common in mandible as poorer blood supply
- Initiation factor often extraction
- Affects approx. 7% of irradiated patients
- Risk thought to increase as dose increases
Describe 3 risk factors of a patient developing ORN
- Radiation related factors - Total dose / field size
- Trauma and surgery
- Drug use
Explain why smoking is a risk factor for ORN
Tends to dry out the mouth which reduces the chances of proper healing
Describe the pathogenesis of ORN
- Irradiated bone, periosteum and overlying soft tissue undergo inflammation and obliterative endarteritis
- Lead to cellular death, hypovasularity and fibrosis
- Radiated bed is hypocellular and devoid of fibroblasts, osteoblasts and osteocompetent cells
- Bone death due to alveolar necrosis
Describe the clinical features of ORN
Exposed bone in previously irradiated mouth with possibility of pain, discharge, external sinus or pathological fracture
Describe the radiological appearance of ORN
- Areas of large radiolucency present which can be ill defined
- Similar looking to recurrent tumour
Explain one pro and one con of the Notani Classification for ORN
Pro - Very straightforward and easy to understand
Con - Only discusses mandible which is draw back
When does a pathological fracture usually occur in the mandible if ORN is present?
Usually only get fracture if ORN has gone past inferior dental canal
What are the clinical features of Notani Grade I?
ORN confined to dentoalveolar bone
What are the clinical features of Notani Grade II?
ORN limited to dentoalveolar bone or mandible above the IDC or both
What are the clinical features of Notani Grade III?
ORN involving mandible below IDC, or pathological fracture, or skin fistula
Name 3 types of management for ORN
- Local debridement
- Ultrasound therapy
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)