Vol.98 No.10 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 98 No. 10 October 2005
Chronic Progressive Radiation Myelopathy after
the Treatment of Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma
Sayaka Yagi, Tomokazu Yoshizaki and Mitsuru Furukawa
(Kanazawa University)
Chronic progressive radiation myelopathy (CPRM) is a delayed injury to the spinal cord after radiotherapy. A 50 year-old male with hypopharyngeal cancer underwent intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Six months later he developed a pain in the left ankle and progressive weakness in his lower extremities. MR image demonstrated high signal intensity on T2 weighted images extending from C2/3 to Th3/4 and atrophy of the cervical cord. Neurological examination revealed weakness in extremities, parestheisa in extremities and abdomen, hyperreaction of deep tendon reflex and dysuria. Corticosteroid and anticoagulation therapy did not improve the neurological symptoms. The incidence of CPRM is rare, however, we should be aware of this possible complication following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Key words : radiation myelopathy, radiotherapy, hypopharyngeal carcinoma, MRI