Endoscopic Surgery for Delayed Sinonasal Complications of Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: a Subjective Outcome

Publication date: Available online 9 January 2018
Source:International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics
Author(s): Rachel Shemesh, Eran E. Alon, Iris Gluck, Arkadi Yakirevitch
BackgroundDelayed sino-nasal complications of radiotherapy include choanal stenosis, osteoradionecrosis, chronic sinusitis and intranasal synechiae. There are only sporadic reports on their surgical treatment with equivocal results.MethodsThis is a prospective case series of all patients surgically treated for delayed sino-nasal complications of radiotherapy in our institution during the last 10 years. The inclusion criteria required at least a 6-month follow up after the surgery. Included patients were asked to fill a SNOT-16 questionnaire preoperatively and 6 months after the surgery.Resultsnine patients with history of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included in our series. In all cases partial or complete subjective improvement was seen.ConclusionIn select cases, endoscopic sinus surgery may be of benefit in the treatment of delayed sino-nasal complications of radiotherapy.

Teaser

Delayed sino-nasal complications of radiotherapy include choanal stenosis, osteoradionecrosis, chronic sinusitis and intranasal synechiae. Their incidence and burden on their quality of life are underestimated. Results of our prospective study show good subjective outcome of surgical treatment of these delayed sino-nasal complications. It should encourage clinicians to be cognizant of symptoms suspicious for this pathology and to be diligent in referring the patients for further evaluation and treatment.


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