Laryngeal chondroradionecrosis following radiotherapy. / Condroradionecrose de laringe após radioterapia.

OBJECTIVE: to study larynx chondroradionecrosis related to radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment and provide a treatment flowchart. METHODS: retrospective study with clinical data analysis of all larynx cancer patients admitted in a two tertiary hospital in a five years period. RESULTS: from 131 patients treated for larynx cancer, 28 underwent chemoradiotherapy with curative intent and three of them presented chondroradionecrosis. They were treated with hiperbaric oxigen therapy and surgical debridment following our flowchart, preserving the larynx in all. CONCLUSIONS: the incidence of chondroradionecrosis as a complication of chemoradiotherapy in our series was 10,7% and the treatment with hiperbaric oxigen therapy, based in our flowchart, was effective to control this complication.

OBJETIVO: estudar a condroradionecrose de laringe por complicação de radio-quimioterapia para tratamento do câncer de laringe e propor um fluxograma de tratamento com a utilização de câmara hiperbárica. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de laringe admitidos em dois hospitais terciários num período de cinco anos. RESULTADOS: de 131 pacientes portadores de câncer de laringe, 28 foram submetidos à radio e quimioterapia exclusiva e destes, três evoluíram com condroradionecrose. O tratamento destes pacientes foi realizado com câmara hiperbárica e com desbridamento cirúrgico, conforme proposição do fluxograma. Todos os pacientes tiveram a laringe preservada. CONCLUSÃO: a incidência de condroradionecrose de laringe por complicação de radioterapia e quimioterapia em nossa casuística foi de 10,7% e o tratamento com oxigenoterapia hiperbárica, com base no nosso fluxograma, foi efetivo no controle desta complicação.

Condroradionecrose de laringe após radioterapia / Laryngeal chondroradionecrosis following radiotherapy

RESUMO Objetivo: estudar a condroradionecrose de laringe por complicação de radio-quimioterapia para tratamento do câncer de laringe e propor um fluxograma de tratamento com a utilização de câmara hiperbárica. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de laringe admitidos em dois hospitais terciários num período de cinco anos. Resultados: de 131 pacientes portadores de câncer de laringe, 28 foram submetidos à radio e quimioterapia exclusiva e destes, três evoluíram com condroradionecrose. O tratamento destes pacientes foi realizado com câmara hiperbárica e com desbridamento cirúrgico, conforme proposição do fluxograma. Todos os pacientes tiveram a laringe preservada. Conclusão: a incidência de condroradionecrose de laringe por complicação de radioterapia e quimioterapia em nossa casuística foi de 10,7% e o tratamento com oxigenoterapia hiperbárica, com base no nosso fluxograma, foi efetivo no controle desta complicação.

ABSTRACT Objective: to study larynx chondroradionecrosis related to radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment and provide a treatment flowchart. Methods: retrospective study with clinical data analysis of all larynx cancer patients admitted in a two tertiary hospital in a five years period. Results: from 131 patients treated for larynx cancer, 28 underwent chemoradiotherapy with curative intent and three of them presented chondroradionecrosis. They were treated with hiperbaric oxigen therapy and surgical debridment following our flowchart, preserving the larynx in all. Conclusions: the incidence of chondroradionecrosis as a complication of chemoradiotherapy in our series was 10,7% and the treatment with hiperbaric oxigen therapy, based in our flowchart, was effective to control this complication.

Overstaging of cartilage invasion by multidetector CT scan for laryngeal cancer and its potential effect on the use of organ preservation with chemoradiation.

OBJECTIVE: The two currently acceptable treatment options for locally advanced laryngeal cancer are total laryngectomy and organ preservation using chemoradiation. To facilitate therapeutic decision making, the accurate pre-treatment evaluation of cartilage invasion is of paramount importance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of detecting neoplastic cartilage invasion in laryngeal cancer patients using fast-speed multidetector CT (MDCT). METHODS: 61 consecutive patients with clinically staged T3 or T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx who underwent total laryngectomy were analysed. All patients had MDCT of the neck within 2 weeks prior to surgery. Central radiographic and pathological review was performed in an attempt to correlate findings. MDCT invasion of cartilage was graded based on objective criteria. RESULTS: MDCT scan was found to have a PPV of 78% and an NPV of 100% for detection of invasion through cartilage, with sensitivity being 100% and specificity 96%. For detection of any cartilage invasion (minor, major or through cartilage invasion), PPV and NPV were 63% and 92%, respectively. The sensitivity was 85% and specificity was 75%. For the detection of tumour invasion through cartilage or major cartilage invasion, MDCT scan had a PPV of 53% and an NPV of 95%. 47% (9/19) patients were down-staged from T4 to T3 after central pathology review. CONCLUSION: The low PPV for cartilage destruction using MDCT suggests that a significant proportion of patients who were treated by total laryngectomy could have been appropriately offered organ preservation if more accurately staged at initial diagnosis.

Late laryngo-tracheal cartilage necrosis with external fistula 44 years after radiotherapy.

Major late complications, following radiotherapy of head and neck carcinomas, such as laryngeal oedema, perichondritis and chondronecrosis usually occur between three and 12 months after treatment. However, the present case displayed necrosis of the laryngo-tracheal cartilage and ulceration of anterior neck skin with a tracheal fistula 44 years after irradiation. The reasons for the long interval between irradiation and late complications may be explained by long-standing hypovascularity and/or infection of the irradiated area. Histological study revealed chondronecrosis without inflammatory cells in the laryngo-tracheal cartilage and bacterial colonization of subcutaneous tissue. Necrotic tissue was removed and tracheostomy was performed. The fistula was almost completely closed using a delto-pectoral cutaneous flap and the clinical course of patient has been good. This paper demonstrates the possibility of laryngo-tracheal necrosis in cases that had received radiation as long ago as 44 years.

CT findings in laryngeal chondroradionecrosis.

The progressive CT features of the laryngeal framework and soft tissues in a case of laryngeal chondroradionecrosis are described. The differential diagnosis with tumor recurrence was at first uneasy, but the protracted history evolution of the tissue changes on CT eventually allowed correct diagnosis.

CT findings in chondroradionecrosis of the larynx.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to describe the CT findings before and after radiation therapy in a series of patients with laryngeal chondroradionecrosis. METHODS: The CT studies obtained before and after radiation therapy in nine patients with the diagnosis of laryngeal chondroradionecrosis were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: CT scans revealed abnormalities in all patients. A variable degree of laryngeal soft-tissue swelling was seen in eight of the patients. In four patients, cartilaginous abnormalities were visible initially, and appeared in three of four other patients who had further follow-up CT studies. Six patients had involvement of the thyroid cartilage; collapse of the thyroid cartilage was seen in two cases and gas bubbles were visible adjacent to the thyroid cartilage in three cases. Four patients with involvement of the thyroid cartilage eventually underwent total laryngectomy, and one died suddenly in severe respiratory distress. In all three patients with arytenoidal involvement, anterior dislocation of this cartilage was seen; in two of these patients, the adjacent part of the cricoid cartilage showed some sclerosis. Two patients with arytenoidal necrosis (both with cricoidal sclerosis) kept a functional larynx. In one case, cricoidal sclerosis was seen in association with lysis of the thyroid cartilage. CONCLUSION: The CT appearance of laryngeal chondroradionecrosis is nonspecific, but the diagnosis can be strongly suggested in cases of sloughing of the arytenoid cartilage, fragmentation and collapse of the thyroid cartilage, and/or in the presence of gas bubbles around the cartilage.

Laryngeal necrosis after combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Post-radiation necrosis of the larynx is a major complication after irradiation and has become rare. Recently, combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy has been introduced for head and neck tumours. The authors report a case of laryngeal necrosis after combination therapy for a patient with cervical lymph node metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and review the literature on late laryngeal necrosis. Although radiation-induced laryngeal necrosis has become a rare complication, the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may increase its incidence. We should always consider it as a possible late complication and treat it appropriately.

Impact of cartilage invasion on treatment and prognosis of laryngeal cancer.

Invasion of laryngeal cartilage has long been considered as a contraindication to radiation treatment and to all types of conservation surgery. With the advent of axial imaging techniques clarification of the submucosal extent of disease became possible. However, controversies regarding diagnosis (preferred modality, accuracy of detection of cartilage invasion) and treatment of cartilage invasion (Is cartilage invasion really a contraindication for irradiation treatment?) arose. Based on currently accepted criteria, CT appears to be more specific in detecting neoplastic cartilage invasion than MRI, but tends to underestimate invasion and may therefore result in undertreatment. Magnetic resonance has a higher sensitivity than CT for detection of cartilage invasion. The superiority of MRI lies in its ability to detect intracartilaginous tumor spread. Unfortunately, MR findings suggesting neoplastic cartilage invasion may be false positive in a considerable number of instances. Two MRI-dependent parameters appear to be significant as a prognostic factor for success of radiation therapy: tumor volume and abnormal MR signal pattern in cartilage. Minimal abnormal MR signal patterns in cartilage in patients with small tumors (under 5 cc) does not appear to be a very ominous finding for tumor recurrence after radiation therapy. On the other hand, abnormal MR signal pattern in cartilage combined with large tumor volume (above 5 cc) appears to worsen the prognosis significantly. If voice conservation surgery is being considered, MR imaging is useful for assessing those structures (such as cartilages) whose involvement would contraindicate partial laryngectomy. Magnetic resonance imaging appears to be the optimal method of examination in cooperative patients. If MRI fails or if it is contra-indicated, CT may still be recommended. The radiologist's experience with CT or MRI also determines the choice between the two modalities.

Chondroradionecrosis of the larynx: still a diagnostic dilemma.

Following radiation treatment for carcinoma of the larynx it may be very difficult to differentiate between persistent or recurrent tumour and severe radiation effects particularly chondroradionecrosis. Despite repeated negative biopsy it may be necessary to perform total laryngectomy where the concern about persistent cancer remains and the larynx is non-functioning. We report nine cases presenting as chondroradionecrosis over a five-year period. Two patients settled on medical treatment. Of seven patients treated with laryngectomy the histology on two revealed residual or recurrent carcinoma. We outline the dilemmas in diagnosis and propose management strategies to deal with this condition including recommendations for prevention and treatment.

[Implantation of 125 iodine seeds in the dog vocal cord. An experimental morphologic study]. / Implantation von 125-Jod-Seeds in die Hundestimmlippe. Eine experimentell-morphologische Studie.

Following the first positive therapeutic results of T1a vocal chord cancer with 125iodine seeds in man (brachytherapy), we were concerned with the effects of this low-energy photon source on healthy laryngeal tissue. In the larynx, changes in the area of the vocal chord and the cartilaginous laryngeal structures were investigated in particular. These experimental studies were performed on the larynx of the dog. Through direct laryngoscopy, two 125iodine seeds were implanted in the anterior third of each vocal chord in 8 dogs; the resulting prick canals were sealed with fibrin glue. During survival the correct position of the seeds was radiologically monitored. After survival periods of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months the larynges were fixed by perfusion, removed, imbedded in paraplast, and stained with H. E., Azan, and E. v. G. After this protracted irradiation with 125iodine seeds only slight and for the most part reversible pathological changes had occurred. One month after implantation, only a perivascular infection was found in the vocal chord. After three months an inhibition of the fibrin organization around the seeds was observed as well as a localized dyschylia with broadening of the gland ducts. Additionally, a circumscribed dysplasia of the squamous epithelium, swelling of the capillary endothelium, atrophy of muscular fibres around the seeds, and telangiectasia of blood vessels were discernable. 6 and 12 months after implantation, only the muscular atrophy and the telangiectasia of the blood vessels remained detectable, in addition to a reduced inhibition of the fibrin organisation by connective tissue.