Osteonecrosis: Study of the relationship of dental extractions in patients receiving radiotherapy

✍ Scribed by Epstein, Joel B. ;Rea, Giuseppe ;Wong, Frances L. W. ;Spinelli, John ;Stevenson- Moore, Peter

• Book ID: 102849138
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1987
• Weight: 640 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-6403
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2890100108

✦ Synopsis

Osteonecrosis is a severe complication of radiotherapy for cancer. Prevention of osteonecrosis is most important, as the condition may be chronic, progressive, and lead to pathologic fracture. The clinical experience, of 627 dental extractions at the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia either before or after radiotherapy is presented. HEAD 81 NECK SURGERY 10:48-54, 1987

T h e term "osteonecrosis" will be used here to describe the necrosis of bone that occurs in association with radiotherapy for cancer in the absence of recurrent or metastatic disease. The diagnosis of osteonecrosis is primarily based on clinical signs and symptoms of ulceration or necrosis of the mucous membrane, with exposure of necrotic bone for more than 3 months. The lesion may be associated with pain, dysesthesia, or anesthesia. Associated symptoms of bad breath, dysgeusia, and food impaction in the area of the lesion may be present. Exposure of rough, irreg-