Nasopharyngeal Stenosis: A Rare Radiotherapy Complication

INTRODUCTION: Acquired nasopharyngeal stenosis after radiotherapy for NPC is rare. We report a case of bilateral choanal stenosis and nasopharygeal stenosis in patient treated with chemo radiotherapy for undifferentieted nasopharnygeal carcinoma. CASE REPORT: A 68 years old man treated for undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma with chemo-radiotherapy 10 years before. He complained of complete nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, anosmia, snoring and hearing loss. Clinical examination and imaging revealed bilateral choanal stenosis and nasopharyngeal stenosis. Patient underwent a transnasal endoscopic resection for scar tissue with stenting of posterior choanae. Restenosis was noted just after stent removal. Second endoscopic resection of stenosis was done, followed by application of mitomycin-C without stenting. Several months later, the patient has good airflow, a patent nasopharynx without reccurence of stenosis. DISCUSSION: The use of topical mitomycin-C may prove useful in the treatment and prevention of subsequent restenosis and scar formation in larynx and tracheal. Mitomycin-C application has being shown useful in treating nasopharyngeal stenosis. It is safely used topically in various surgical sites without major side effect. CONCLUSION: Nasopharyngeal stenosis is an unusual complication of radiotherapy that can be successfully treated with combine two modalities: surgical and mitomycin-C as an adjunct.