TY - JOUR
T1 - Adverse Radiation Therapy Effects in the Treatment of Head and Neck Tumors
AU - Rocha, Pedro H.P.
AU - Reali, Raphael M.
AU - Decnop, Marcos
AU - Souza, Soraia A.
AU - Teixeira, Lorine A.B.
AU - Lucas Júnior, Ademar
AU - Sarpi, Maíra O.
AU - Cintra, Murilo B.
AU - Pinho, Marco C.
AU - Garcia, Marcio R.T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, Radiological Society of North America Inc.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/5/1
Y1 - 2022/5/1
N2 - Whether used as a single modality or as part of a combined approach, radiation therapy (RT) plays an essential role in the treatment of several head and neck malignancies. Despite the improvement in radiation delivery techniques, normal structures in the vicinity of the target area remain susceptible to a wide range of adverse effects. Given their high incidence, some of these effects are referred to as expected postradiation changes (eg, mucositis, sialadenitis, and edema), while others are considered true complications, meaning they should not be expected and can even represent lifethreatening conditions (eg, radionecrosis, fistulas, and radiationinduced neoplasms). Also, according to their timing of onset, these deleterious effects can be divided into four groups: acute (during RT), subacute (within weeks to months), delayed onset (within months to years), and very delayed onset (after several years).The authors provide a comprehensive review of the most important radiation-induced changes related to distinct head and neck sites, focusing on their typical cross-sectional imaging features and correlating them with the time elapsed after treatment. Radiologists should not only be familiar with these imaging findings but also actively seek essential clinical data at the time of interpretation (including knowledge of the RT dose and time, target site, and manifesting symptoms) to better recognize imaging findings, avoid pitfalls and help guide appropriate management.
AB - Whether used as a single modality or as part of a combined approach, radiation therapy (RT) plays an essential role in the treatment of several head and neck malignancies. Despite the improvement in radiation delivery techniques, normal structures in the vicinity of the target area remain susceptible to a wide range of adverse effects. Given their high incidence, some of these effects are referred to as expected postradiation changes (eg, mucositis, sialadenitis, and edema), while others are considered true complications, meaning they should not be expected and can even represent lifethreatening conditions (eg, radionecrosis, fistulas, and radiationinduced neoplasms). Also, according to their timing of onset, these deleterious effects can be divided into four groups: acute (during RT), subacute (within weeks to months), delayed onset (within months to years), and very delayed onset (after several years).The authors provide a comprehensive review of the most important radiation-induced changes related to distinct head and neck sites, focusing on their typical cross-sectional imaging features and correlating them with the time elapsed after treatment. Radiologists should not only be familiar with these imaging findings but also actively seek essential clinical data at the time of interpretation (including knowledge of the RT dose and time, target site, and manifesting symptoms) to better recognize imaging findings, avoid pitfalls and help guide appropriate management.
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U2 - 10.1148/rg.210150
DO - 10.1148/rg.210150
M3 - Article
C2 - 35302867
AN - SCOPUS:85129996652
SN - 0271-5333
VL - 42
SP - 806
EP - 821
JO - Radiographics
JF - Radiographics
IS - 3
ER -