[Radiation complications in the combined treatment of cancer of the oropharyngeal area].

A follow-up of 236 patients exposed to combined radiotherapy, carried out at the Chelyabinsk oncologic center, has shown that 27 (11.4%) of these patients developed radiologic complications, 18 (7.6%) developed ulcers and 9 (3.8%) osteomyelitis. Radiation ulcers occurred in 6.7% of the patients with cancer of the oral cavity fundus mucosa, osteomyelitis in 9%. In the patients with lingual carcinoma the complications occurred in 4.6 and 10.8%, respectively, in those with cancer of the lower lip radiation ulcers developed in 3.5% of patients, whereas osteomyelitis did not occur. Radiation injuries developed mostly in the patients with large tumors located near osseous structures. The authors emphasize a careful follow-up of this patient population, particularly in the earliest period after the irradiation.