Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws (ORNJ) is among the most severe oral complications following radiotherapy for head and neck tumors. It is essentially a form of pathological necrosis of the jawbone induced by radiation therapy. ORNJ is defined as bone damage, primarily characterized by inflammation and necrosis, occurring in the jawbone within the irradiated area and accompanied by soft tissue injury, persisting for more than 3 months without spontaneous healing. Diagnosis requires exclusion of other potential etiologies, including primary tumor recurrence, medication-related osteonecrosis, and radiation-induced neoplasms of the jawbone, etc. In this review, recent advances in the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, classification and staging, dosimetric parameters, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of radiation-induced osteonecrosis of the jaws were summarized.

Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws (ORNJ) is among the most severe oral complications following radiotherapy for head and neck tumors. It is essentially a form of pathological necrosis of the jawbone induced by radiation therapy. ORNJ is defined as bone damage, primarily characterized by inflammation and necrosis, occurring in the jawbone within the irradiated area and accompanied by soft tissue injury, persisting for more than 3 months without spontaneous healing. Diagnosis requires exclusion of other potential etiologies, including primary tumor recurrence, medication-related osteonecrosis, and radiation-induced neoplasms of the jawbone, etc. In this review, recent advances in the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, classification and staging, dosimetric parameters, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of radiation-induced osteonecrosis of the jaws were summarized.