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Radiation Complications & Management

Oral Medicine & Radiology • NEET MDS Study Guide • AI-Generated Notes

⭐ High-Yield Facts for Exam

  • Mucositis = earliest complication.
  • Xerostomia = most common late effect.
  • ORN = mandible > maxilla.
  • Treat teeth before radiotherapy; wait ~6 months after for extractions.
  • HBO = ORN adjunct.

Radiation Complications & Management

Acute

  • Mucositis — the earliest complication (within the first week or two).
  • Dysgeusia (taste loss), candidiasis.

Chronic / Late

  • Xerostomia — the most common late effect (salivary gland damage) → radiation caries.
  • Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) — non-healing irradiated bone; the mandible is affected more than the maxilla.
  • Trismus from fibrosis.

Management Principles

Complete necessary dental treatment/extractions before radiotherapy; ideally wait ~6 months after radiation before extractions; meticulous prevention (fluoride trays). Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is an adjunct for ORN.

Exam Tips ⭐

Mucositis = earliest; xerostomia = most common late; ORN = mandible > maxilla; HBO adjunct.

📝 Practice MCQs — Radiation Complications & Management

Q1. The earliest complication of head & neck radiotherapy is:
A. Osteoradionecrosis
B. Mucositis
C. Trismus
D. Caries
Show Answer
✅ Answer: B
Mucositis appears earliest, within the first weeks.
Q2. Osteoradionecrosis most commonly affects the:
A. Maxilla
B. Mandible
C. Zygoma
D. Palate
Show Answer
✅ Answer: B
The mandible is more prone to ORN than the maxilla.
Q3. An adjunctive therapy for osteoradionecrosis is:
A. Hyperbaric oxygen
B. Fluoride varnish
C. Antihistamines
D. Steroids
Show Answer
✅ Answer: A
Hyperbaric oxygen improves tissue oxygenation in ORN.
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