Osteomyelitis occurring in the zygomatic bone

Osteomyelitis of bones in the middle third of the face is rare, especially in westernized populations. The actiology is usually due to odontogenic sources or infected fracture sites. An unusual case of osteomyelitis of the zygomatic bone resulting from the use of radiotherapy in the management of recurrent basal cell carcinoma is presented. This illustrates a late complication of therapy for a cancer which commonly occurs in the head and neck region and is rapidly increasing in incidence in the UK.