Clinical characteristics and treatment of radiation-induced sympathetic nerve injury / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the characteristics,treatment and prognosis of radiation-induced sympathetic chain injury.Methods We observed 6 cases with radiation-induced sympathetic chain injury and re-viewed the clinical features,treatment and prognosis of these patients. Results The median age of these 6 cases was 50 and the interval between radiotherapy to onset was 7.7 years.Dizziness was the first and most common symp-tom and dramatic fluctuation of blood pressure was the most common physical sign.Steroids might be considered for the treatment of radiation-induced sympathetic nerve injury. However,the therapeutic effect still needs to be proved.Conclusions Sympathetic nerve injury is an uncommon but dramatic symptom in NPC patients after radio-therapy.