Characteristics of radiation-induced osteonecrosis in patients with malignant tumors of the maxillofacial area

Objective. To analyze clinical laboratory and X-ray characteristics of radiation-induced osteonecrosis of jaws in patients with malignant tumors of the maxillofacial area.

Materials and methods. The study of medical histories of 26 cancer patients with osteonecrosis of jaws underwent hospital treatment between 2019 and 2024 was carried out. CBCT tomography and microbiological studies were used as additional diagnostic methods used for patients with osteonecrosis of jaws. Sensitivity to antibacterial drugs was conducted by disc diffusion method. One of clinical cases was described.

Results. Most patients with radiation-induced osteonecrosis were male (95.5%, n=21, p<0.05). 85.7% (n=18) of them reported long-term smoking. Conducting CBCT allows to accurately establish localization of the pathological process, to determine extent of prevalence, and presence of associated complications. In the course of a microbiological study, it was found that microorganisms from patients with osteonecrosis had resistance to a number of antibacterial drugs used for empirical therapy.

Conclusion. The presence of harmful habits, such as smoking, in patients with malignant tumors of the maxillofacial area, increases the likelihood of developing radiation-induced osteonecrosis. The use of additional study methods in clinical practice such as CBCT, microbial profile analysis and determination of sensitivity of the microorganisms present in patients to antibacterial drugs are necessary steps for treatment of patients with osteonecrosis. Chronic course, developing complications and poor quality of life necessitate the need to find new methods and means for etiopathogenic treatment of patients with radio-induced osteonecrosis of jaws.

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