Osteoradionecrosis
What is osteoradionecrosis?
Osteoradionecrosis is an irradiated bone (undergo radiotherapy) that becomes devitalized(dead) and exposed through the overlying skin or mucosa, without healing for 3 months. It is more common in mandible (your lower jaw) compared to your maxilla (the upper jaw)Â due to its compact structure and it receives less blood supply compared to the maxilla. Continue reading
Definitions:
Dysphagia- sticking sensation or obstruction on swallowing
Odynophagia- pain on swallowing. It comes form the Greek words odyno– meaning pain and –phagia meaning swallowing.
These are often used incorrectly. Continue reading
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Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is one of 3 treatment options that can be used to treat tumours, the other 2 being surgical removal and chemotherapy. Sometimes these therapies are used in combination with each other. There are many structures in the head and neck, therefore radiation to the head and neck area (could be due to oral, nose, skin etc cancers) can cause a multitude of complications as listed below: Continue reading