Infectious Complications of Osteoradionecrosis After Head and Neck Cancer Therapy

Head and neck cancers are the seventh most frequent cancers worldwide. Over the past decades, although the incidence of these cancers has increased, advances in modern medicine have led to a substantial improvement in survival rates. Unfortunately, short- and long-term side effects of cancer therapy can negatively affect patients’ quality of life. Osteoradionecrosis and subsequent infectious complications are common, multifactorial, and difficult to manage. Understanding the key aspects in the approach to this clinically challenging problem is vital in providing meaningful recommendations for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases processes. Furthermore, the involvement of an experienced and dedicated medical, dental, radiological, and surgical multidisciplinary team with expertise in the field is of paramount importance in improving clinical outcomes. This chapter reviews the basic principles of head and neck cancer and osteoradionecrosis and offers several in-depth preventive and therapeutic recommendations for the management of diverse infectious diseases complications.