Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC, USA.
Cancer Radiother. 2021 Jul;25(5):507-513. doi: 10.1016/j.canrad.2021.02.001. Epub 2021 Mar 5.
Purpose of this review of medical literature is to present the immediate side effects of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer and their treatment. The likelihood and severity of these immediate side effects depends on a number of factors, including the total dose of radiation delivered, over what time it was delivered and what parts of the head and neck received radiation. Early side effects include: inflammation of the oropharyngeal mucosa (mucositis), painful swallowing (odynophagia), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), hoarseness, lack of saliva (xerostomia), orofacial pain, laryngeal radionecrosis, dermatitis, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, inadequate nutrition and hydration, and weight loss. These complications can interfere with, and delay treatment. Most of these side effects generally dissipate over time. In conclusion, radiation treatment for the head and neck cancer causes significant early side effects. Many of these side effects present difficult challenges to the patients. Their recognition and treatment can significantly improve the patients' health, long-term survival and quality of life. The review provides information that can assist head and cancer survivors deal with radiation side effects.
本文旨在介绍头颈部癌症放射治疗的即刻副作用及其治疗方法。这些即刻副作用的发生概率和严重程度取决于多种因素，包括所接受的放射总剂量、放射的时长以及头颈部的哪些部位接受了放射。早期副作用包括：口咽黏膜炎症（黏膜炎）、吞咽疼痛（吞咽困难）、吞咽困难（吞咽困难）、声音嘶哑、唾液减少（口干）、口面部疼痛、喉放射性坏死、皮炎、脱发、恶心、呕吐、营养和水分摄入不足以及体重减轻。这些并发症会干扰并延迟治疗。大多数这些副作用通常会随着时间的推移而逐渐消失。总之，头颈部癌症的放射治疗会导致明显的早期副作用。其中许多副作用给患者带来了极大的挑战。对这些副作用的识别和治疗可以显著改善患者的健康状况、长期生存和生活质量。该综述提供了相关信息，有助于头颈部癌症幸存者应对放射副作用。
