Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Natasha West, Dr Naomi Willis, Amar RajgorORCiD
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Crown Copyright © 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal College of Radiologists. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.Aims: Limited evidence exists on the incidence of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) specifically for oral cavity (OC) cancer alone. The primary objective of this study was to determine the incidence of ORN for each subsite of the OC. The secondary objective was to analyse the risk factors for ORN development. Materials and methods: Between 2010 and 2021, a total of 2517 head and neck cancer patients underwent radical or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) at our centre. Of these, 254 patients with an OC primary cancer were identified and were included in this analysis. Results: Of the 254 patients, ORN developed in 57 patients (22.4%). Subsite analysis showed the following incidence: floor of mouth 21/64 (32.8%), retromolar trigone 11/46 (23.9%), lower gum 8/25 (32.0%), tongue 14/109 (12.8%) and buccal mucosa 3/10 (30.0%).In univariable analysis, any surgical intervention involving the mandible as well as dental extraction after RT were identified as significant risk factors for ORN development (P < .05). In multivariable analysis, dental extraction after RT (P < .001), rim resection as a part of the primary treatment (P = .027), and ipsilateral neck irradiation (P = .045) were confirmed as significant risk factors. Conclusion: This study, focusing exclusively on ORN of the OC, has revealed unexpectedly high rates of ORN at 22.4%, with certain subsites such as floor of mouth having an incidence of 32.8%. The authors recommend that postoperative RT for OC cancers should be carefully evaluated, weighing the potential benefits against the possible risks of morbidity.
Author(s): Kovarik PD, Iqbal MS, Davidson Z, Patil R, Kelly C, Jackson M, Mackenzie L, West N, Willis N, Kovarik JP, Banks R, Kennedy M, Adams J, Rajgor A, Cvek J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Clinical Oncology
Year: 2026
Volume: 52
Print publication date: 01/04/2026
Online publication date: 24/01/2026
Acceptance date: 02/04/2018
ISSN (print): 0936-6555
ISSN (electronic): 1433-2981
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clon.2026.104064
DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2026.104064
PubMed id: 41702133
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
