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Jejunal free-flap reconstruction complicated by development of post-irradiation sarcoma: what information should patients receive about the long-term effects of radiotherapy for head and neck tumours

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

D. R. K. Smith
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
S. L. Woolley
Affiliation:
Emergency Department, Bristol Royal Infirmary/Bristol Children’s Hospital, Bristol, UK.

Abstract

Jejunal free-flap reconstruction is a well recognized, reliable technique commonly used for reconstruction of the upper aero-digestive tract following surgery for malignancy, and radiotherapy is commonly used as an adjuvant treatment in such cases. Unfortunately, post-irradiation sarcomas are a well recognized complication of radiotherapy and generally have a poor prognosis. We report what we believe to be the first case of radiation-induced sarcoma in a free-flap jejunal graft and discuss the information that should be given to patients undergoing radiotherapy to head and neck tumours.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
© 2005 Royal Society of Medicine Press

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