Subdural empyema post-chemoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Chan DBY, Ong CK, Soo RLK
Correspondence: Dr Daniel Chan, daniel_chan@nuh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common malignancy in the Asian Chinese population. The first-line treatment for Stage III/IV disease has in recent times shifted from radiotherapy to that of concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The treatment is not infrequently associated with in-field complications. We describe a rare case of one such complication -- subdural empyema developing post-chemoradiotherapy in a 56-year-old man with Stage IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Keywords: chemoradiotherapy, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, subdural empyema
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(12): 1089-1091