Hodgkin's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hodgkin's Disease, including details on causes, cancer, lymphoma, stages, symptoms.

Late appearance of dropped head syndrome after radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease.

Rowin J, Cheng G, Lewis SL, Meriggioli MN

Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Neuropsychiatric Institute (MC 796), Chicago, Illinois 60612-7330, USA. rowin@uic.edu

We present three cases of dropped head syndrome that occurred as a complication of mantle field (i.e., lymph nodes of the neck, axillae, and mediastinum) or whole-body radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease. These cases are characterized by a late onset (2-27 years after radiation treatment), fibrosis, and contraction of the anterior cervical muscles, and atrophy of the posterior neck and shoulder girdle. This report adds to the increasing literature about the late neurological complications of radiation therapy and describes a previously unrecognized cause of dropped head syndrome.

Published 16 October 2006 in Muscle Nerve, 34(5): 666-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Hodgkin's Disease Research Today. All Rights Reserved.