ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy are placed in an immunocompromised state worth consideration in the event of potential airway compromise, especially when superimposed on an airway-obstructing tumor. We report a case of bacterial epiglottitis in a patient with active oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), who presented in such a way that an infectious etiology was not initially considered in the patient's care. To our knowledge, such a circumstance has not been reported in the literature. CASE: Here, we report a case of a 68-year-old male with advanced-stage OPC who developed respiratory distress and underwent emergent tracheostomy. The patient was diagnosed postoperatively with Haemophilus influenza and Pseudomonas aerugeniosa. Following antibiotic treatment, the patient recovered to the point in which he could then undergo concomitant chemoradiation. The patient later had a recurrence of P. aerugeniosa during their radiotherapy that was also treated with antibiotics. The patient experienced continued symptoms related to their OPC and underwent pharyngectomy. Despite the initial success of this procedure, the patient experienced tumor recurrence and succumbed to his disease. CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of considering multiple etiologies concerning airway compromise, as the consequence of delayed cancer treatment may be loss of local cancer control.
Subject(s)
Epiglottitis , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms , Male , Humans , Aged , Epiglottitis/complications , Epiglottitis/diagnosis , Epiglottitis/therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/complications , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/therapy , Chemoradiotherapy/adverse effects , Tracheostomy/adverse effects , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic useABSTRACT
We report a case of radiation-induced myofibroblastoma of the right nasal cavity in a patient with a remote history of radiotherapy for pediatric retinoblastoma. The patient required maxillectomy and ethmoidectomy. To our knowledge, a rare number of cases have been reported in this location.
ABSTRACT
There is a paucity of information regarding the demographic factors associated with the development of neck fibrosis in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients following radiotherapy. A retrospective review of all patients being treated for HNC at a tertiary care center between 2013 and 2017 was performed. Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to identify differences in incidence and grade of fibrosis, respectively, between populations. A total of 90 patients aged 19 to 99 years were included. Factors associated with an increased incidence of fibrosis included smoking during radiotherapy (p < 0.001), alcohol use (p = 0.026), recurrent disease (p = 0.042), and age less than 60 (p < 0.001) on univariate analysis. Factors associated with increased grade of fibrosis in HNC patients included recurrent HNC (p = 0.033), alcohol use (p = 0.013), patient age younger than 60 years (p = 0.018), smoking during radiotherapy (p < 0.001), and non-Caucasian race (p = 0.012). Identification and intervention directed at patients that possess risk factors associated with fibrosis prior to treatment has the potential to improve the long-term quality of life for HNC patients.
