Histopathologic and Histomorphometric Analysis of Irradiation Injury in Bone and the Surrounding Soft Tissues of the Jaws

Purpose: Surgery of irradiated tissue has an increased complication rate because of the development of hypovascular, hypocellular, and hypoxic tissue. This study was undertaken to perform histopathologic and histomorphometric analyses of irradiation tissue injury in bone and the surrounding soft tissues.

Material And Methods: The histopathologic findings of 40 human mandibular bones and the surrounding soft tissue specimens obtained from different patients who underwent surgical procedures for treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws were reviewed.

Results: Histopathologic examination showed 7 processes in the following order of appearance: hyperemia, endarteritis, thrombosis, cell loss, hypovascularity, increase of fat in the bone marrow cavity, and fibrosis. Histomorphometric analysis showed significant hypocellularity (P = .007), hypovascularity (P < .001), and fibrosis (P < .001) in irradiated specimens compared with control specimens.

Conclusion: These results showed that radiation injuries affect the bone and surrounding soft tissues. However, the irradiation-induced injuries, such as cellular loss (hypocellularity) and fibrosis, were more expressive in bone tissue than in the surrounding soft tissues.