Delayed aerodigestive tract complications following combined therapy for thyroid cancer.

Radical surgery for papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid has been associated with a significant incidence of complications. In some instances, postoperative irradiation is given when there is some suspicion of persistent or occult disease, although thyroid suppression and ablative radioiodine therapy have proved to be very effective adjuvants to surgery. Three patients with papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid developed severe, delayed complications 25, 7, and 2 years, respectively, after treatment with primary radical surgery and postoperative irradiation. The degree of injury to the aerodigestive tract as a result of the surgery and irradiation therapy makes treatment difficult regardless of the modality. The possible mechanisms that cause these complications, along with proposed methods of treatment, are discussed.