Radiation recall supraglottitis. A hazard in head and neck chemotherapy.

The enhanced effects of chemotherapy on previously irradiated tissue have been well demonstrated. When chemotherapy is given some time after irradiation and elicits a tissue reaction in the radiation field, the reaction is termed radiation recall. We review known interactions between chemotherapy and radiotherapy and report, to our knowledge, the first case of a supraglottitis radiation recall reaction. Familiarity with this phenomenon and potential complications of chemotherapy following head and neck irradiation may expedite early diagnosis and appropriate lifesaving treatment.

Papillomas of the larynx and pharynx: two case reports.

Two unusual cases of papillomas are presented: the first is that of a young boy with extensive papillomas of the larynx who was treated successfully without tracheotomy using endolaryngeal surgery and steroids at the time of each procedure. This case adds to the clinical evidence that the most probable cause of juvenile papillomas is a virus, since the mother had condyloma acuminata during pregnancy and at term. The second case is that of a young girl with rapidly recurring papillomas of the mouth and pharynx who was treated successfully with an autogenous vaccine and cryosurgery after other measures failed. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of cryosurgery in the treatment of papillomas and the possible efficacy of the autogenous vaccine suggests a viral etiology for papillomas of the pharynx and larynx.