Radiation-induced craniofacial bone growth disturbances

Multimodality treatment, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, is required for the management of head and neck cancer in pediatric patients. Despite the modem advances in radiation dosing and targeting techniques, the radiation damage to the growing craniofacial skeleton in children remains a significant clinical problem. The first part of this review summarizes the clinical effects of radiotherapy on craniofacial bone growth in children. Experimental evidence on therapeutic radiation effects on bone growth in in vivo and in vitro models is reviewed. The second part of this review focuses on prevention of radiation-induced craniofacial bone growth inhibition using radioprotective agents.