1) Discuss the role of surveillance imaging in identification of radiation induced changes in normal tissue, so that these changes are not misinterpreted as evidence of persistent or recurrent tumor. 2) Describe imaging characteristics of radiation injury to various tissues including visceral mucosal space, salivary glands, bones and vascular structures in the neck as well as surrounding organs such as brain, skull base and lungs. 3) Discuss the advantage of early identification of these using case-based approach.
ABSTRACTRadiation therapy for head and neck cancers can cause adverse effects and toxicity to the normal tissues in the irradiated regions. This does not only lead to a variety of comorbidities, but also present a challenging and complex appearance on surveillance imaging studies. Timely identification of some of these adverse effects can improve patient survival and quality of life.