Late Complications after Irradiation Treatment for Cervical Adenitis in Childhood A 60-year Follow-up Study

Abstract

Irradiation against benign cervical adenitis in children was formerly a widely used form of treatment which has caused a great number of late complications, mostly various benign and malignant tumours in the head and neck area, especially in the thyroid gland. In a follow-up study on 63 individuals irradiated at Karlstad Hospital between 1917 and 1929 we found, in addition to these changes, two hitherto not reported complications. Laryngeal stenoses occurred in 27 cases, 17 of which so severe that they eventually required permanent tracheostomies and 11 had fibrous strictures of the upper esophagus, repeated dilatations have been necessary in many of these cases. These complications were mostly seen in those who had been irradiated at an early age, the laryngeal stenoses appear to be caused by a general retardation or inhibition of the normal growth of the laryngeal cartilages resulting in a microlarynx. One possible explanation for these previously not reported sequelae might be the exceptionally high irradiation doses these persons were exposed to up to 60 years ago.

Key Words:

• irradiation-induced laryngeal stenosis
• esophagus stricture
• head and neck tumours