Development of mucosal thickening after radiotherapy in contralateral sinuses of patients with nasal cavity and/or paranasal sinus carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the development of radiotherapy (RT)-induced mucosal thickening (MT) of the contralateral sinuses in patients with nasal cavity and/or paranasal sinus carcinoma.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and the initial and follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans of 37 patients with RT and 10 controls without RT. The CT scans were scored on the Lund-Mackay (LM) staging system.


RESULTS
Fifteen of the 37 patients had MT before RT, and the mean LM score was 0.68. The MT incidence significantly increased, to 72.9% (p = 0.009), and the LM score significantly increased, to 2.84 (p < 0.001), by 3 months after RT, after which the LM score decreased gradually to 1.73 at 36 months after RT. Four of the 10 controls had MT before treatment, and their mean LM score was 0.7. Their MT incidence and LM score had not changed significantly at 3 months after treatment. The pretreatment LM scores of the patient group and the control group were not significantly different, but their posttreatment LM scores were significantly different at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of RT in patients with nasal cavity and/or paranasal sinus carcinoma may cause a significant increase in the incidence of MT and in the LM scores in all sites of the paranasal sinuses by 3 months after RT, after which the LM score decreases gradually.
Wang
Jong Hwan
JH
Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Bong-Jae
BJ
Lee
Jeong Hyun
JH
Kim
In June
IJ
Jang
Yong Ju
YJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult