Plastisch-chirurgische Therapie von Bestrahlungsfolgen an Hals, Brust und Thoraxwand

In addition to its destructive effect on tumors, ionizing radiation also causes an alteration in the state of healthy tissue, depending on the type and dosage of radiation, the individual tissue reaction and the time elapsed since the exposure to radiation. Conventional radiation lead to conditions in the skin and the subcutis which are frequently progressive for the rest of the patients life. They should therefore be surgically excised before ulcerations and later carcinomas develop in the irradiated areas. Even radiation with the linear accelerator may lead to osteoradionecrosis and damage of deeper structures. Plastic reconstructive procedures may be involved in an interdisciplinary approach in the treatment of acute radiation injury, planned surgery after therapeutic radiation, chronic radiation ulcers or malignant transformation within the irradiated tissue.