Sternoclavicular osteoradionecrosis following treatment for head and neck cancer

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a well described complication of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC), with a past reported incidence as high as 10–18% [5], [1] and [4] mostly involving the mandible. ORN rarely involves the sternoclavicular complex in HNC patients treated with RT. Here, we present a case of HNC treated with combined (cytotoxic) chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CCRT) complicated by ORN and osteomyelitis of the sternoclavicular complex involving large segments of both clavicles, the sternum, and the trachea.