Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is among the most serious late complications observed in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with radiation therapy (RT). The present study was conducted to evaluate risk factors of osteoradionecrosis of jaws in patients of head and neck cancer. Materials & Methods: 42 patients who developed osteoradionecrosis of jaws following postoperative RT to the head and neck cancer of both jaws were included. Risk factors such as history of smoking or alcohol use, diabetes mellitus, pre-RT dental evaluation, pre- or post-RT tooth extraction, primary tumor site, T-stage, nodal status and treatment-related factors were recorded. Results: Out of 42 patients, males were 30 and females were 12. Common risk factors found to be diabetes in 30, alcoholism in 15, smoking in 35, oropharyngeal cancer in 24, oral cancer in 12, hypopharyngeal cancer in 4 and nasopharyngeal cancer in 2 cases. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Common risk factors found to be diabetes, alcoholism, smoking, oropharyngeal cancer, oral cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer. Key words: Alcoholism, Smoking, Osteoradionecrosis