Publications by authors named "R K Lalla"
Purpose: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is a severe iatrogenic disease characterized by bone death after radiation therapy (RT) to the head and neck. With over 9 published definitions and at least 16 classification systems, the true incidence and severity of ORNJ are obscured by lack of a standard for disease definition and severity assessment, leading to inaccurate estimation of incidence, reporting ambiguity, and likely under-diagnosis worldwide. This study aimed to achieve consensus on an explicit definition and phenotype of ORNJ and related precursor states through data standardization to facilitate effective diagnosis, monitoring, and multidisciplinary management of ORNJ.
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- * A 34-year-old man initially showed no brain abnormalities on scans, but later imaging revealed significant microbleeds specifically in the corpus callosum, pointing to a unique type of brain injury.
- * The patient received intensive care and targeted temperature management, leading to a positive outcome with significant recovery and no neurological deficits, although the long-term effects of such microbleeds remain unclear.
Objective: To compare salivary flow rates between females and males, before and after radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).
Methods: Prospective observational multicenter cohort study (OraRad). Stimulated whole salivary flow was measured before RT and at 6 and 18 months after RT.
Background: Patients who are oral hygiene noncompliant (OHNC) are more likely to lose teeth after radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC), which increases the risk of developing osteoradionecrosis. A previous study revealed that patients who were OHNC at baseline (BL) who became oral hygiene compliant during follow-up had the best tooth-failure outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with oral hygiene compliance (OHC), overall, and among those who were BL OHNC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReduced mouth opening in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy: an analysis of the Clinical Registry of Dental Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients (OraRad).
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol
March 2024
Objective: Trismus/reduced mouth opening (RMO) is a common side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). The objective was to measure RMO, identify risk factors for RMO, and determine its impact on quality of life (QOL).
Study Design: OraRad is an observational, prospective, multicenter cohort study of patients receiving curative intent RT for HNC.