| Affiliation: | 1. THANC (Thyroid, Head and Neck Cancer) Foundation, 10 Union Square East, Suite 5B, New York, NY 10003, USA;2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, 10 Union Square East, Suite 5B, New York, NY 10003, USA;3. Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, Mount Sinai West, 1000 10th Ave, New York, NY, 10019, USA;4. Department of Radiology, New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, 310 East 14th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA |
| Abstract: | ![]()
BackgroundOsteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a well-known complication following irradiation of head and neck malignancies. ORN commonly occurs in the mandible but is rarely reported in the hyoid bone.Case presentationA 76-year-old female with a history of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma presented with pharyngocutaneous fistula 14?years after primary chemoradiation. Imaging showed necrosis of the hyoid bone. She underwent excision of the hyoid to rule out malignancy. Pathology was negative for carcinoma, but did show extensive fragmentation and bony necrosis consistent with ORN. The patient's clinical course, surgical treatment, and management considerations are discussed here.ConclusionsHyoid ORN should remain in the differential during diagnostic workup of previously irradiated head and neck cancer patients. The presentation of a pharyngocutaneous fistula should prompt workup to rule out malignancy before assigning a diagnosis of ORN. |
