title: Radiation-associated airway necrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chondronecrosis is one of the complications that occurs after radiation treatment of the chest and mediastinal tumors, with necrosis usually developing months to years after treatment. Upper airway perichondritis and necrosis of the cricoid cartilage, larynx, and upper trachea have been observed as a complication of radiation therapy for head and neck cancers as well. Tracheal chondronecrosis, on the other hand, is a rare complication after radiation treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of delayed chondronecrosis of the distal trachea that developed 8 years after radiation treatment using iodine-125 seeds to treat mediastinal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment options for chondronecrosis of the distal trachea are based on the location and extent of the airway chondronecrosis and can be either balloon bronchial dilatation with stent placement or surgical resection and anastomosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care, and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Abdul Hamid
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Alraiyes
authors.forename: M Chadi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alraies
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbas
keywords: Adenocarcinoma; necrosis; radiation; trachea