Prophylactic Use of Pentoxifylline and Tocopherol in Patients Undergoing Dental Extractions Following Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

BACKGROUND: In head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw is one of the major but uncommon complications. Satisfactorily results have been observed while treating ORN patients with upcoming treatment modalities such as combination therapy of pentoxifylline and Vitamin E (PVe). It is believed that in patients undergoing dental extractions, these treatment modalities can be used prophylactically for lowering the risk of development of ORN. Hence, keeping all these things in mind, we planned the present study to assess the prophylactic role of pentoxifylline and tocopherol in patients who require dental extractions after radiotherapy for cancer of head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 110 patients were included in this retrospective study, which had radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck. After radiotherapy, a total of 450 dental extractions were done in these 110 patients. RESULTS: External beam therapy was given in 92.72% of the patients. 7.27% and 40% of the patients received intensity modulated radiotherapy combination of chemotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy, respectively. ORN developed only in 2 patients. Patients had taken PVe for a mean of 12 (24) weeks preoperatively and 14 (18) weeks postoperatively. The incidence was lower than that normally associated with dental extractions in irradiated patients. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing dental extractions, after receiving radiotherapy of head and neck region, combination therapy of pentoxifylline and tocopherol are sufficiently effective.