Late complications of head and neck cancer survivors include neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis. We present an autopsy case of neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis (sternocleidomastoid, omohyoid, digastric, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and platysma muscles) within the radiation field after modified radical neck dissection type I and postoperative radiotherapy for floor of mouth cancer. A 70-year-old man underwent primary tumor resection of the left floor of mouth, left marginal mandibulectomy, left modified radical neck dissection type I, and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap. The patient received adjuvant radiotherapy. The dose to the primary tumor bed and involved neck nodes was 63 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks. Areas of subclinical disease (left lower neck) received 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not administered.
Aged ; Atrophy* ; Autopsy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Fibrosis* ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Mouth Floor ; Mouth Neoplasms* ; Neck Dissection* ; Neck Muscles* ; Neck* ; Radiotherapy* ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Survivors