Radiation osteitis of the clavicle

The bone alterations in the region of the clavicle (3 cases) are similar to those we have observed and described elsewhere in the skeleton i.e., the mandible, maxillary and ethmoid bones. Rarefaction is the result of three different types of bone destruction: osteoclasia, a kind of osteocytic osteolysis only observed after irradiation and obviously related with infection, and a pure demineralization of the osseous tissue by contact with pus. Reconstruction processes, although unable to prevent spontaneous fracture, are also present and correspond to islets of chondroid tissue surrounded by lamellar bone. However, these recently deposited calcified tissues are already necrotic since most of their lacunae are empty.Les modifications osseuses dans la région de la clavicule (3 observations) sont semblables à celles observées ailleurs dans le squelette, par exemple la mandibule, le maxillaire et l’os ethmoïde. La raréfaction osseuse est le résultat de trois types différents de destruction: l’ostéoclasie, une espèce d’ostéolyse ostéocytaire observée après irradiation, en rapport certain avec une infection et une déminéralisation pure du tissu osseux en contact avec du pus. Les phénomènes de reconstruction, bien qu’incapables d’éviter une fracture spontanée, sont également présents et ils correspondent à des îlots de tissu chondroïde au sein de travées d’os lamellaire. Cependant ces tissus calcifiés récemment déposés sont déjà nécrosés puisque les ostéoplastes sont vides

Radiation osteitis of the clavicle following radiotherapy and radical neck dissection of head and neck cancer.

The bone alterations in the region of the clavicle (3 cases) are similar to those we have observed and described elsewhere in the skeleton i.e., the mandible, maxillary and ethmoid bones. Rarefaction is the result of three different types of bone destruction: osteoclasia, a kind of osteocytic osteolysis only observed after irradiation and obviously related with infection, and a pure demineralization of the osseous tissue by contact with pus. Reconstruction processes, although unable to prevent spontaneous fracture, are also present and correspond to islets of chondroid tissue surrounded by lamellar bone. However, these recently deposited calcified tissues are already necrotic since most of their lacunae are empty

Bone vitality in the cat's irradiated jaw. Histological study.

The vitality of the mandible in cats was studied from two to 15 months after irradiation. Dose of 80 Gy in three days was delivered using three hairpin shape iridium-192 wires surrounding the mandibula. The osseous vitality was assessed from the percentages of lacunae inhabited by osteocytes (IL). The results are compared with those obtained by microradiography. At two months, a small reduction of vitality is already observed, it becomes progressively more important. At one year, vitality is recovered nearly fully in the ventral part of the mandibula, mainly at the level of the alveolar crest. Vitality remains reduced in the dorsal part. Microradiographic lesions appear more slowly; they are apparent at six months