Woody hardness – a novel classification for the radiotherapy-treated neck. Issue 4 (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Colbert, S.D.; Mitchell, D.A.; Brennan, P.A.
• Is Part Of: British journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Volume 53:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 383
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Mouth -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Maxilla -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Face -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery, Plastic -- Periodicals; Dentistry, Operative -- Periodicals; Face -- surgery -- Periodicals; Mouth -- surgery -- Periodicals; Maxilla -- surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery, Oral -- Periodicals; Oral Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Dentistry, Operative -- Periodicals; Bouche -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Maxillaire supérieur -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Face -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Chirurgie dentaire -- Périodiques; Dentistry, Operative; Face -- Surgery; Maxilla -- Surgery; Mouth -- Surgery; Surgery, Plastic; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 617.52059
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.02.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-4356

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <p id="spar0005">The term 'woody neck' is widely used by surgeons and oncologists to describe the fibrosis that can occur following radiotherapy for head and neck malignancy. These soft tissue and skin changes can be compounded by neck dissection, either before or after radiotherapy. To our knowledge, there is no classification published in the literature to describe the degree of woody hardness following treatment. We propose a simple ABC classification for varying degrees of indurated oedema and neck fibrosis secondary to radiotherapy or long-standing pathology, using the hardness of different woods to enable a suitable description to be made of severity.</p> </sec> </abstract>