Abstract
Radiotherapy is a good treatment for larynx and hypopharyngeal carcinomas in terms of functional preservation of the larynx, but serious local complications are occasionally caused by radiotherapy, including radionecrosis of the larynx. A study of radionecrosis revealed that the frequency of radionecrosis of the larynx was 2.9%. Clinical features included laryngeal and pharyngeal edema, larynx paralysis, skin ulcer, and dysphasia. 88% of necrosis cases occurred within 18 months after radiotherapy, so radionecrosis of the larynx is a late complication of radiotherapy compared with complications that are recognized relatively early. 38% of the radionecrosis cases were cured by preservative treatment. Operation was necessary in 63% of cases, therefore radionecrosis could have preserved the larynx in 63% of cases. Although radiotherapy is used for preserving laryngeal function, since larynx function is lost as a result, it is necessary to study ways to reduce this complication in future.
