Radiation Field, Dose and Fractionation Related to Mandibular Complications

Is the Radiation Field, Dose and Fractionation Crucial for the Development of Mandibular Complications When Treating Malignancies in the Oropharyngeal Region?

Radiotherapy is inhibiting the healing capacity of the mandibular bone. Late complications as bone exposure, fracture of the jaw, osteoradionecrosis might be a consequence of this vulnerability. A factor that could be involved in the development of complications is field of radiation. There are limited number of studies investigating this relation.

Retrospective analysis of a head and neck oncology register with prospectively included patients will be performed. Patients will be related to the University hospitals in Lund, Umea, Orebro, Stockholm. A thorough analysis of the medical journals in this group of patients will be performed. Included patients have been treated with combination of surgery and radiotherapy to treat malignancies in the head and neck region. At least 12 months follow up period is needed for inclusion.

The scientific aim is to investigate weather the field of radiation and fractionation is crucial for developing the formentioned complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of the head and neck malignancy
• Must have recieved radiotherapy as primary treatment alone or combination treatment together with surgery

Exclusion criteria

• less than 12 months follow up
• Under 18 years of age