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Temporal bone tumours in patients irradiated for nasopharyngeal neoplasm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Yau Hong Goh ,
Vincent F. H. Chong  and
Wong Kein Low
Yau Hong Goh*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Vincent F. H. Chong
Affiliation:
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Wong Kein Low
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
*
Address for correspondence: Yau Hong Goh, F.R.C.S., Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, Republic of Singapore. Fax: (65) 226 2079
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Abstract

Radiation-associated tumours are rare complications of radiotherapy. This study seeks to highlight and discuss the clinically challenging problem of radiation-associated tumours (RATs) in the temporal bones of seven patients previously irradiated for nasopharyngeal neoplasm.

Seven patients (six males and one female) with radiation-associated temporal bone tumours are presented (five squamous cell carcinomas, one osteogenic sarcoma and one chondrosarcoma). The initial nasopharyngeal disease for which radiotherapy was indicated was nasopharyngeal carcinoma (six patients) and nasopharyngeal lymphoma (one patient). The latency period between radiotherapy and presentation of temporal bone tumours ranged from five years to 30 years with a mean of 12.9 years. All the patients underwent surgical tumour resection. Three patients had post-operative radiotherapy and one patient underwent pre- and post-perative chemotherapy. Two patients died from the disease within three months of treatment with one patient surviving 36 months at the time of writing. One patient died from an unrelated medical condition three months after surgery.

With refinement in radiotherapy techniques and the resultant increase in patient survival, there may be more patients with radiation-associated tumours in the future. It remains imperative for clinicians to be vigilant when patients previously irradiated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma present with otological symptoms as the key to the successful management of this condition lies in the early detection and expedient treatment of this difficult disease.

Keywords

Temporal boneNeoplasms, radiation inducedRadiationNasopharyngeal neoplasms
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 3 , March 1999 , pp. 222 - 228
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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