Opportunistic actinomycosis in osteoradionecrosis of the jaws in patients affected by head and neck cancer: incidence and clinical significance

Actinomycosis is occasionally an opportunistic infection occurrence in pati ents with osteoradionecrosis (ORN). A retrospective studs' (1992-97) of 50 patients with ORN of the jaws was done to evaluate the incidence and its cl inical significance in the management of ORN. Actinomycosis was diagnosed i n 12% of ORN cases. In 36 of the 50 patients including five cases of actino mycosis, the ORN was considered to be resolved after treatment. The median treatment duration of ORN was significantly longer (P < 0.007) in patients with actinomycosis (29.7 months) than those without the disease (13.4 month s). In conclusion, bone biopsy should be considered in cases of ORN with un satisfactory response to its specific therapies, aiming to identify possibl e opportunistic actinomycosis infection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.