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Journal of Medical Case Reports
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Case report

Osteoradionecrosis of the cervical spine presenting with quadriplegia in a patient previously treated with radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer: a case report

Authors: Frederik Carl van Wyk, Manu-priya Sharma, Robert Tranter

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Introduction

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible and temporal bones has been extensively reported in literature, but cases of avascular necrosis of the cervical spine following radiotherapy to the larynx appear to be extremely rare. A review of the English language literature has shown only one other case where radiotherapy treatment of a laryngeal carcinoma has resulted in osteoradionecrosis of the cervical spine.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 65 year old male patient who suffered from osteoradionecrosis of the cervical spine 20 years after radiotherapy treatment for a T1aN0M0 laryngeal carcinoma resulting in quadriplegia.

Conclusions

Radiotherapy carries a long-term risk of complications, including osteoradionecrosis which may present 20 years later with significant implications.
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Metadata
Title
Osteoradionecrosis of the cervical spine presenting with quadriplegia in a patient previously treated with radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer: a case report
Authors
Frederik Carl van Wyk
Manu-priya Sharma
Robert Tranter
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4076/1752-1947-3-7262

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