Sunitinib is commonly used in the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma and is associated with serious side-effects. We present the first report of a recurrent submandibular fistula in a patient treated with sunitinib. A 68-year-old man was referred to our clinic for a cutaneous fistula situated on the right side of his lower jaw. The patient had been diagnosed with bone metastases from a renal carcinoma 2 years ago and had received a single 4 mg dose of zoledronic acid and subsequent treatment with sunitinib 37.5 mg once daily for the past 4 weeks. The patient was treated surgically by a perilesional incision and primary closure with sutures, advised on meticulous oral hygiene and was kept on an antimicrobial agent in the form of clindamycin. After reinitiating his oncological treatment with sunitinib the cutaneous fistula re-appeared and bone abnormalities were also detected on his X-ray. After 18 months a contralateral cutaneous fistula was observed along with a spontaneous avulsion of the patient’s left molar. Repeat surgical treatment and sequestrectomy was performed with the subsequent histopathological examination revealing a suspicion of osteonecrosis of the jaw and an associated Actinomyces infection.

Aim. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the clinical, radiological, and histological characteristics of patients diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and treated at the Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery Clinic of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Targu Mures between 2017 and 2022. The study aimed to analyze correlations between patient characteristics, particularly their history of bone modifying agent use or local radiotherapy during cancer treatment, in order to identify specific patient profiles that could aid in evaluating treatment response and guide individualized treatment strategies. Methods. Fifty-two patients diagnosed with ONJ were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on their medical history: the bone modifying agent use group and the radiotherapy group. Clinical, radiological, and histological data were collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis, including p-values, was performed to compare patient characteristics between the two groups. Results. Patients in the radiotherapy group were significantly older than those in the bone modifying agent use group (66 years vs. 56.9 years, p=0.001). There was a higher proportion of males in the radiotherapy group compared to the bone modifying agent use group (90% vs. 22%, p<0.001). Jaw involvement was more prevalent in the radiotherapy group compared to the bone modifying agent use group (95% vs. 66%, p=0.018). Histological analysis showed a similar frequency of Actinomyces species in both groups (50% vs. 34%, p=0.264). Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest the existence of two distinct patient profiles based on their treatment history (bone modifying agent use vs. radiotherapy) in ONJ. Patients in the radiotherapy group were older, predominantly male, and exhibited a higher prevalence of jaw involvement. Histological analysis revealed no significant differences in Actinomyces species frequency between the two groups. These distinct patient profiles may indicate different responses to treatment, emphasizing the need for individualized treatment strategies tailored to specific patient characteristics. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and develop personalized approaches for managing ONJ.

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