Two cases of postradiation damage to bone and cartilage in head and neck regions

Damage to bone and cartilage after irradiation is well known. Two cases are reported of serious osteolythiasis of the skull and perichondritis of the larynx damaged by radiation therapy. Case 1: A 39 year old male was given radiotherapy for a pseudotumor of the paranasal sinus from January 1966 through June 1969 (telecobalt, total dose of 20400 rads). A roentogenograph taken in January 1974, showed radiation osteolythiasis of the maxilla and temporal bone. Sequestrectomy and continuous drainage were carried out. Case 2: A 65 year old male who had been given radium therapy for laryngeal cancer 10 years previously developed hoarseness a painless mass in his throat. Laryngoscopic examination revealed that the right vocal cord was fixed, and that the arythenoid region was markedly swollen. The histological diagnosis was that of benign inflammatory granuloma. Roentogenographic appearance of the larynx represented a dissolution of the thyroid cartilage. This condition continued to grow worse and a laryngectomy was performed. It is recommended that greater care and supervision be given patients undergoing irradiation. (Evans, J.)