Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: April 20, 2018

Neck spasm after chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer: natural history and dosimetric correlates

Klaudia U Hunter¹, Francis Worden, Carol Bradford

¹Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

|April 6, 2013

Abstract

Background:

Little is known about the determinants of postradiation neck spasms in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods:

Patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy (RT) from 2004 to 2010 who experienced neck spasms werereviewed. Radiation doses were generated for their sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles bilaterally. Unaffected SCMs were used as controls.

Results:

Thirty-four patients reported neck spasms. Thirty had received definitive chemoradiation, and 4 had RT alone. Seven also had an ipsilateral neck dissection. Median time to onset was 23 months (range, 6-67 months). There were significantly higher radiation doses to the affected SCMs with a median of the mean dose to the affected and unaffected SCM of 62.3 Gy (range, 29-71 Gy) and 53.7 Gy (range, 27-65 Gy), respectively (p < .0001). Other dosimetric variables were also statistically significant but were highly correlated with the mean SCM dose. Neck dissection did not affect our results.

Conclusion:

Neck spasms after chemotherapy intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) shows a strong dose-response relationship.

Keywords:

complications head and neck cancer myoclonus neck spasms radiation

Related Concept Videos

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy. SP binds and activates these...

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT₃ Receptor Antagonists

5-HT3 receptor antagonists, such as dolasetron, granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran), and palonosetron (Axoli), are crucial in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and postoperative nausea. These drugs selectively block 5-HT3 receptors in the visceral vagal and spinal afferent nerves, chemoreceptor trigger zone, and the vomiting center. They have a rapid onset of action and can be given as a single dose before chemotherapy. Ondansetron and granisetron, in particular,...

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists

Dopamine receptor antagonists, also known as antipsychotic agents, are critical in managing chemotherapy-induced vomiting. These antiemetic agents block dopamine receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), inhibiting signal transmission to the vomiting center. Antipsychotic agents encompass phenothiazines (PTZ), butyrophenones, benzamides, and thienobenzodiazepines (Zyprexa), which are utilized for their antiemetic and sedative properties.
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...

Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction

Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction

Esophageal strictures involve abnormal narrowing or tightening of the esophagus. They vary in length and severity, ranging from mild constriction to complete obstruction, and are classified as benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

US-based Delphi Consensus Study on Adjuvant Radiation Therapy (ART) in Node-Negative Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CSCC).

International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics·2026

Non-Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx: Primary Surgery or (Chemo)radiotherapy?

Head & neck·2026

Reply to Borewad et al. Comment on "Rao et al. The Oncological Outcome of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Node-Negative Early-Stage (T1/T2/N0) Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Perineural Invasion: A Meta-Analysis. Cancers 2025, 17, 862".

Cancers·2026

Speech and swallowing outcome measures for oral cancer - what should we be collecting?

Current opinion in otolaryngology & head and neck surgery·2026

HPV Detection in Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Narrative Review of Diagnostic and Emerging Molecular Approaches.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Selection Criteria for De-Escalated Chemoradiotherapy for HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Based on Prognostic Biomarkers or Early Tumor Response to Therapy: A Narrative Review.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

See all related articles