Subcutaneous calcification in the pectoralis major flap: a late complication of radiotherapy.
Heterotopic calcification following radiotherapy is a very rare event. Here, we report a case of a patient who underwent surgical intervention including pectoralis major flap reconstruction for locally advanced pharyngolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma with skin invasion. He was followed up post-operatively with adjuvant radiotherapy. 13 years after the treatment, suspect resistance in the myocutaneous flap region appeared and was diagnosed as a calcification. To date, the occurrence of subcutaneous calcification in the myocutaneous flap in the neck has not been described as a late complication of neck irradiation.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic. jan.plzak@lf1.cuni.cz
J
J
Plzak
P
P
Kalitova
M
M
Urbanova
J
J
Betka
D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000637:transplantation; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology*