Assessment of radiation-induced otitis media in patients with parotid gland malignancy

Abstract

Abstract Background Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a known side effect of radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Aims/objectives To investigate the incidence rate and clinical course of radiation-induced OME, we have reported on the long-term characteristics of OME in patients with parotid gland malignancy. Material and methods This cohort study assessed 200 patients who underwent post-parotidectomy radiation therapy from January 2010 to December 2019 in a tertiary referral center. Postoperative radiation therapy was performed at 6\u2009weeks post-surgery. Serial magnetic resonance images were collected to detect otitis media. Two blinded otologists individually assessed data from radiation therapy initiation to 36\u2009months of post-radiation therapy. Results A total of 121 patients were enrolled (male, 61 [50.4%]; mean age, 46.98\u2009±\u200915.69\u2009years), of which 14 developed otitis media (11.6%) within 6\u2009months after radiation therapy. Spontaneous remission occurred without intervention within 1\u2009year, excluding one patient who sustained otitis media for 2\u2009years. Conclusions and significance Radiation-induced OME occurred in 11.6% of patients and it remitted within 1\u2009year without intervention. Therefore, cooperation between otolaryngologists and radiation oncologists is required and invasive intervention should be considered with careful risk-benefit evaluation.