Cerebral radionecrosis following the treatment of parotid tumours: a case report and review of the literature

Radiotherapy is an accepted part of the treatment of malignant tumours of the parotid gland. The use of radiotherapy in benign parotid tumours, where spillage of tumour cells has occurred at operation, is more controversial. Radiotherapy to the parotid bed is not without morbidity. Complications may arise as a result of radiation damage to neighbouring structures and there is also potential to induce malignant disease. A patient, whose postoperative radiotherapy following resection of a pleomorphic salivary gland adenoma was complicated by cerebral necrosis, is discussed. The literature pertaining to morbidity of radiotherapy for parotid tumours is reviewed. (au)