pubmed-article:3809638 | pubmed:abstractText | The authors, on the basis of reports found in literature and of a personal series, discuss the radiological aspects, the differential diagnosis, the main factors that lead to bone sequelae, and the possible contributory causes and complications. The radiological aspects is characterized by the association of sclerotic and atrophic changes, with a prevalence of the latter in the involvement of the mandible and the cranial bones. Among the main factors there are the radiation dose and its chronological distribution. In fact, the higher the values of the nominal standard dose (NSD), the higher the incidence of such alterations and the more difficult to carry out the efficacy of their treatment. These alterations are found almost exclusively after treatment with administration, in terms of NSD, of more than 1352 rets. Among the contributory causes there are all the factors that may change the physiological condition of the bony tissue. The most common complications are fractures and septic osteitis, the last particularly frequent in the mandible. These alterations and mainly fractures may be solved even spontaneously, even if rather late, so that conservative treatments are indicated. After osteitis it is usually possible to avoid pseudoarthrosis. In cases irradiated with higher doses, osteotomy is often necessary sometime followed by poor results. | lld:pubmed |