1. Fractal Analysis of Mandible in Panoramic Radiographs of Patients Received Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
- Author
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Tepe RD, Toraman KO, Kayhan KB, Ozcan I, and Karabas HC
- Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the impact of radiotherapy on the internal structure complexity of mandibular cortical and trabecular bone and to determine the duration required for a return to healthy values post-radiotherapy., Materials and Methods: Panoramic radiographs from patients undergoing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma were analyzed before and after treatment. Four groups were formed based on post-radiotherapy radiography timing (0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, and 24-36 months), comprising a total of 59 cases and 118 radiographs. Fractal analysis was conducted on four bilateral regions (ROI) in both trabecular and cortical bone on each radiograph. Additionally, measurements of inferior alveolar canal width and mandibular cortical width were performed. Mean and maximum radiation dose values to the mandible were measured, and their correlation with changes in fractal dimension, inferior alveolar canal width, and mandibular cortical width values was assessed., Results: Fractal dimension values in regions over trabecular bone showed a statistically significant decrease in all groups, although no significant difference was observed among the four groups. In ROI-4 from cortical bone, a significant fractal dimension decrease was noted in all groups except the 0-6 month group. The magnitude of fractal dimension decrease was higher in the 12-24 and 24-36 month groups compared to the 0-6 month group. inferior alveolar canal width and mandibular cortical width values significantly decreased post-radiotherapy in all groups, with a consistent decrease across the groups., Conclusions: Radiotherapy induces a reduction in the internal complexity of trabecular and cortical bone structures in the mandible. Osteoradionecrosis risk persists even three years post-radiotherapy, suggesting a cautious approach to interventional procedures on the bone., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Author Rabia Duman Tepe, Author Kubra Ozkaya Toraman, Author Kivanc Bektas Kayhan, Author Ilknur Ozcan, and Author Hulya Cakir Karabas declare that they have no conflict of interest. All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study., (Copyright © 2024 The International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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