Sleep apnea syndrome after irradiation of the neck
Abstract
After irradiation of the neck for a squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar pillar and vocal cord, a 71-year-old man presented with a rapidly progressive sleep apnea syndrome. Previous reports describe the condition of patients with obstructive sleep apnea that developed after neck irradiation and secondary to supraglottic edema. Our patient had an obstructive component to his apnea similar to that described in previous cases, but, in addition, he had hypothyroidism. Myxedema is a well-described cause of both obstructive and central apnea. We believe both contributed to his condition. He was successfully treated by placement of a tracheostomy and by thyroid supplementation. In patients who present with sleep apnea after neck irradiation, especially with acute or severe symptoms, the differential diagnosis should include both a central cause from hypothyroidism as well as a peripheral obstructive cause from laryngeal edema.
- Authors:
-
- Pulmonary Disease Service, Presidio of San Francisco, CA (USA)
- Publication Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5031730
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery; (USA)
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 115:12; Journal ID: ISSN 0886-4470
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; CARCINOMAS; RADIOTHERAPY; LARYNX; SIDE EFFECTS; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; HYPOTHYROIDISM; NECK; PATIENTS; RADIATION INJURIES; SLEEP; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BODY; BODY AREAS; DISEASES; ENDOCRINE DISEASES; INJURIES; MEDICINE; NEOPLASMS; NUCLEAR MEDICINE; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIOLOGY; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; THERAPY; 560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
Citation Formats
Herlihy, J P, Whitlock, W L, Dietrich, R A, and Shaw, T. Sleep apnea syndrome after irradiation of the neck. United States: N. p., 1989.
Web. doi:10.1001/archotol.1989.01860360069020.
Herlihy, J P, Whitlock, W L, Dietrich, R A, & Shaw, T. Sleep apnea syndrome after irradiation of the neck. United States. https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1989.01860360069020
Herlihy, J P, Whitlock, W L, Dietrich, R A, and Shaw, T. 1989.
"Sleep apnea syndrome after irradiation of the neck". United States. https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1989.01860360069020.
@article{osti_5031730,
title = {Sleep apnea syndrome after irradiation of the neck},
author = {Herlihy, J P and Whitlock, W L and Dietrich, R A and Shaw, T},
abstractNote = {After irradiation of the neck for a squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar pillar and vocal cord, a 71-year-old man presented with a rapidly progressive sleep apnea syndrome. Previous reports describe the condition of patients with obstructive sleep apnea that developed after neck irradiation and secondary to supraglottic edema. Our patient had an obstructive component to his apnea similar to that described in previous cases, but, in addition, he had hypothyroidism. Myxedema is a well-described cause of both obstructive and central apnea. We believe both contributed to his condition. He was successfully treated by placement of a tracheostomy and by thyroid supplementation. In patients who present with sleep apnea after neck irradiation, especially with acute or severe symptoms, the differential diagnosis should include both a central cause from hypothyroidism as well as a peripheral obstructive cause from laryngeal edema.},
doi = {10.1001/archotol.1989.01860360069020},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5031730},
journal = {Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery; (USA)},
issn = {0886-4470},
number = ,
volume = 115:12,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1989},
month = {Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1989}
}