Three Cases of Persistent Laryngeal Edema Postradiation Therapy

Radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, which has made remarkable progress in recent years, is one of the main treatment modalities because it can preserve organ function and morphology after treatment. However, while RT is widely used, complications have been reported, especially laryngeal edema, which can be an airway management problem during general anesthesia. Of the 3 cases of RT-induced laryngeal edema presented here, the first developed 4 days post-RT, the second manifested signs and symptoms associated with laryngeal edema after RT performed 4 years and 4 months previously, and the third exhibited severe laryngeal edema over a decade post-RT despite the absence of clinical signs and symptoms. Patients with a previous history of RT involving the head and neck region may encounter challenges in airway management due to laryngeal edema. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the airway preoperatively and devise a comprehensive airway management plan that encompasses various devices and techniques.