Subscribe to RSS
![](/products/assets/desktop/img/oa-logo.png)
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735921
Imaging Features of Postradiotherapy Changes in Head and Neck Cancers
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00050590/202103/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0041-1735921_2160522-1.jpg)
Abstract
Radiation therapy is the mainstay in the treatment of head and neck cancers, in addition to surgery and chemotherapy. Expected radiotherapy changes evolving over time may be confused with recurrent tumor. Conversely, even residual or recurrent tumor in the setting of postradiotherapy changes may be difficult to identify clinically or even by radiological imaging. Therefore, it is important to be familiar with the temporal evolution of these changes. The purpose of this pictorial essay is thus to illustrate distinctly the expected radiotherapy changes and radiotherapy-related complications in the head and neck region and to differentiate them from tumor recurrence on routine cross-sectional imaging techniques (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging).
Keywords
postradiotherapy changes - head and neck malignancy - head and neck squamous cell carcinoma - radiation complicationsPublication History
Article published online:
06 October 2021
© 2021. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India
-
References
- 1 Saito N, Nadgir RN, Nakahira M. et al. Posttreatment CT and MR imaging in head and neck cancer: what the radiologist needs to know. Radiographics 2012; 32 (05) 1261-1282 , discussion 1282–1284
- 2 Peter M.Som, Eric M.Genden. The Posttreatment Neck: Clinical and Imaging Considerations. Peter M. Som and Hugh D. Curtin editors. Head and Neck Imaging. 2011. Mosby Elsevier. 5th edition. Volume 2; 2249-2250
- 3 Kim J, Shin ES, Kim JE, Yoon SP, Kim YS. Neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis after neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy for oral cancer. Radiat Oncol J 2015; 33 (04) 344-349
- 4 Benveniste MF, Gomez D, Carter BW. et al. Recognizing radiation therapy-related complications in the chest. Radiographics 2019; 39 (02) 344-366
- 5 Alhilali L, Reynolds AR, Fakhran S. Osteoradionecrosis after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: differentiation from recurrent disease with CT and PET/CT imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2014; 35 (07) 1405-1411
- 6 Chrcanovic BR, Reher P, Sousa AA, Harris M. Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws–a current overview–part 1: physiopathology and risk and predisposing factors. Oral Maxillofac Surg 2010; 14 (01) 3-16
- 7 Glastonbury CM, Parker EE, Hoang JK. The postradiation neck: evaluating response to treatment and recognizing complications. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2010; 195 (02) W164-71
- 8 Dassarath M, Yin Z, Chen J, Liu H, Yang K, Wu G. Temporal lobe necrosis: a dwindling entity in a patient with nasopharyngeal cancer after radiation therapy. Head Neck Oncol 2011; 3: 8
- 9 Wang Y-XJ, King AD, Zhou H. et al. Evolution of radiation-induced brain injury: MR imaging-based study. Radiology 2010; 254 (01) 210-218
- 10 Shah R, Vattoth S, Jacob R. et al. Radiation necrosis in the brain: imaging features and differentiation from tumor recurrence. Radiographics 2012; 32 (05) 1343-1359
- 11 Zhao F, Bu L, Zhang W. et al. Herpes simplex encephalitis during radiation therapy in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Transl Cancer Res 2017; 6 (06) 1149-1155
- 12 Sermer DJ, Woodley JL, Thomas CA, Hedlund JA. Herpes simplex encephalitis as a complication of whole-brain radiotherapy: a case report and review of the literature. Case Rep Oncol 2014; 7 (03) 774-779
- 13 Dropcho EJ. Neurotoxicity of radiation therapy. Neurol Clin 2010; 28 (01) 217-234
- 14 Warade AC, Jha AK, Pattankar S, Desai K. Radiation-induced brachial plexus neuropathy: A review. Neurol India 2019; 67 (suppl): S47-S52
- 15 Wilbers J, Kappelle AC, Kessels RP. et al. Long term cerebral and vascular complications after irradiation of the neck in head and neck cancer patients: a prospective cohort study: study rationale and protocol. BMC Neurol 2014; 14: 132
- 16 Suárez C, Fernández-Alvarez V, Hamoir M. et al. Carotid blowout syndrome: modern trends in management. Cancer Manag Res 2018; 10: 5617-5628
- 17 Choi HS, Jeong BK, Jeong H. et al. Carotid sparing intensity modulated radiotherapy on early glottic cancer: preliminary study. Radiat Oncol J 2016; 34 (01) 26-33
- 18 Gujral DM, Shah BN, Chahal NS, Senior R, Harrington KJ, Nutting CM. Clinical features of radiation-induced carotid atherosclerosis. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2014; 26 (02) 94-102
- 19 Thiagarajan A, Iyer NG. Radiation-induced sarcomas of the head and neck. World J Clin Oncol 2014; 5 (05) 973-981