Intraoral sonographic features of tongue cancer after radical radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to illustrate the sonographic changes of tongue cancer after radical radiotherapy.


METHODS
In 24 patients with tongue cancer treated by interstitial brachytherapy (BRT) (uneventful recovery n = 16 , recurrence n = 5, severe soft tissue complication n = 3), follow-up examination were performed and both the margin and the vascular pattern were retrospectively assessed. We basically performed US examination at least once every 3 months after BRT within 1 year during follow-up period.


RESULTS
In the healing process, intraoral sonography shows an unclear margin immediately after brachytherapy and a transient increase of the vascularity lasted within 6 months after BRT, followed by a decrease in the vascularity. The large difference in echogenicity between the primary site and the surrounding tissue and the increased difference suggested the possibility of either radiation ulceration or recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraoral sonography could depict the sequence changes of the tongue after BRT, and it was thus useful to confirm the clinical findings of either radiation ulcers or recurrence.
Chikui
Toru
T
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. chikui@rad.dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Kawazu
Toshiyuki
T
Nakamura
Katsumasa
K
Urashima
Yuusuke
Y
Yuasa
Kenji
K
Kanda
Shigenobu
S
D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014059:Tongue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014945:Wound Healing
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals