Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws is a pernicious complication of radiation therapy for head and neck tumours. According to the most recent literature, is defined as exposed irradiated bone that fails to heal over a period of 3 months without any evidence of persisting or recurrent tumour.
The mechanism of pathogenesis is still under investigation. However, the most frequently reported reason is radiation arteritis. Radiation arteritis leads to the development of a hypocellular, hypovascular and hypoxic environment, which results in a pathological outcome.

• * Chronopoulos, A., Zarra, T., Ehrenfeld, M., & Otto, S. (2017). Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws: definition, epidemiology, staging and clinical and radiological findings. A concise review. International Dental Journal, 68(1), 22–30. doi:10.1111/idj.12318