Diameter of external carotid arteries in patients with mandibular osteoradionecrosis

Abstract

Background/Aim: To evaluate the association between osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible and stenosis of the external carotid artery after radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer. Patients and Methods: The computed tomography images of 42 patients (36 men, six women; median age, 64.5 years) treated with RT for head and neck cancer between January 2011 and December 2015 were reviewed. The cross-sectional diameters of the bilateral external carotid arteries were measured on contrast-enhanced images taken after completion of RT. Results: Nine of the 42 included patients (21.4%) developed ORN after a median interval of 34 months from completion of RT. Univariate analysis revealed that external carotid artery diameter ≤ the median diameter was significantly associated with ORN development (p=0.008 and 0.013). In multivariate analysis, left external carotid artery diameter ≤ the median was significantly associated with ORN development (p=0.023). Conclusion: External carotid artery stenosis was significantly associated with ORN development.