Research Information System
Neurosurgery Quarterly, vol.25, no.2, pp.236-237, 2015 (Scopus)
Objective: Neurological complications are uncommon following radiotherapy. In this study, peripheral facial paralysis as a possible early complication and radiation myelitis as a late complication of radiotherapy were presented in the same patient operated with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. Case Report: A 34-year-old man who underwent mass excision with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma was attended at postoperative fourth month with a primary recurrence without receiving his recommended radiotherapy program. Following a second surgery, the patient received radiation to the tumor site and the neck. The patient developed peripheral facial paralysis 4 weeks after the irradiation and radiation myelitis at postoperative third year. Conclusions: A forerunner radiation-induced peripheral facial paralysis may predict susceptibility to neural dysfunction and therefore possible neurological complications. Such patients may constitute an additional risk factor for radiation myelopathy. Patients with radiation myelopathy risk factors should be closely followed, informed about the possible symptoms, and told to seek medical treatment promptly should any symptoms occur to facilitate early diagnosis and rehabilitation.