Decoding Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaw: Radiological Progression and a Novel CT-Based Grading System
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw is a severe, progressive complication of radiation therapy for head and neck malignancies. ORN features radiologically overlaps osteomyelitis and tumor recurrence. This study analyzes jaw ORN imaging characteristics and progression and proposes an ORN CT-based grading system that builds on current ClinRAD grades. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 35 patients with biopsy-proven or clinically diagnosed ORN following radiation therapy. Initial and follow-up imaging were assessed to evaluate the radiological evolution of ORN. The imaging findings were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS v26, and literature comparisons were made. Results: The median onset of ORN post-radiotherapy was 27–28 months (range: 2–119 months). The most common clinical presentations included non-healing ulcers (49%), pain (34%), and discharging sinuses (31%). Mandibular involvement was predominant (51%), with focal bone alterations being more frequent (63%). CT findings at clinical suspicion of ORN included resorption (100%), erosions (100%), sclerosis (86%), and fragmentation (83%). Follow-up imaging showed increased bone erosion (77%), fragmentation (92%), and sclerosis (92%). A CT-based grading system is proposed to classify ORN progression. Conclusions: ORN follows a predictable radiological progression, beginning with trabecular resorption and cortical erosion, leading to fragmentation and sequestrum formation. The proposed grading system provides a structured approach for early diagnosis. The proposed grading system provides a structured approach for diagnosis. Larger studies of imaging analyses are required to validate these findings and refine diagnostic criteria.
Source: Cancers
Authors: Vasundhara Patil, Vasundhara Patil, Pritesh Shah, Abhishek Mahajan, Nilesh Sable, Anuradha Shukla, Gauri Bornak, Swapnil Rane, Sandeep Gurav, Sarbani Ghosh Laskar, Gouri Pantvaidya, Amit Janu, Suman Ankathi, Arpita Sahu, Kajari Bhattacharya, Nivedita Chakrabarty, Archi Agarwal, Prathamesh Pai, Deepa Nair, Anuja Deshmukh, Richa Vaish, Vidisha Tuljapurkar, Asawari Patil, Munita Bal, Kumar Prabhash, Vanita Noronha, Nandini Menon, Vijay Patil, Vijay Patil, Pankaj Chaturvedi
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
OpenAlex ID: W7119103073