Learning objectives
To summarize and describe the radiologicalfindingsseen in treated patients with Head and Neck malignancyand discern betweennormal/benign; therapeutic complications and recurrence/residue of the malignancy.
Background
The different therapeutic approaches in Head and Neck malignancies affect both the normal and pathologicaltissues.
This results in asymmetry from the anatomic modification,
morphologic-inflammatory changes,
and therapeutic complications that can pose as an interpretation challenge for the radiologist/radiotherapist in the patients follow up.
Findings and procedure details
For the purpose of our study,
cross-sectional imaging of treated Head and Neck malignancies was used,
comprising of CT and MR acquired from May 2013 until May 2015.
128 slice CT or 4 slice CT and 1.5 T MR were used.
Most of the patients (77%) included in the study were histopathologicaly proven oropharyngeal and laryngeal malignancies (mostly SCC).
Then nasopharyngeal carcinoma (9%),
adenocarcinomas (4%) and thyroid cancers (2%) followed.
The imaged changes of the tissue were classified into 2 groups: early (in the first...
Conclusion
The value of early differentiating normal post treatment changes,
treatment complications andrecurrence/residue of the malignancy would result in better patient outcome,
earlier change of treatment and finally fewer imaging of the patient.The challenges of imaging treated patients can be overcome with better knowledge of the surgeons technique and type of radio or chemotherapy applied thus improvement of the communication between radiologist,
oncologist and surgeon is recommended.
This also allows better insight in the patient’s clinical finding and laboratory which can sometime save a lot of...
References
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Forastiere,
AA,
Ang,
KK,
Brizel,
D et al.
Head and neck cancers.
J Natl Compr Canc Netw.
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Baujat B,
Audry H,
Bourhis J,
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Chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an individual patient data meta-analysis of eight randomized trials and 1753 patients.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2006;...