Work

Very Late-Onset Lingual Necrosis Post-radiation in an Adult: A Case Report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Lingual necrosis is a rare but serious late complication of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, despite the tongue's rich vascular supply. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who developed unilateral tongue necrosis 16 months after chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma. A cervico-facial CT scan showed occlusion of the right lingual artery and compensatory dilation of collateral vessels. Surgical debridement of necrotic tissue was performed, and histopathology confirmed the lingual necrosis. The delayed onset and extent of necrosis in this case suggest progressive, radiation-induced microvascular injury. This case highlights the importance of prolonged follow-up and early recognition of atypical post-treatment lesions.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.89828

Authors: Lina Benchillal, Layal Abi-Khalil, Didier Dequanter, Lamia El Ouahabi, Gaëtan Cavelier

Institution: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Pierre

Language: English

Topic: Oral health in cancer treatment

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4413212592