For patients with laryngeal cancer about to start chemoRT who have a narrow airway on imaging but are asymptomatic without any stridor or shortness of breath, do you take any precautions to prevent airway obstruction secondary to radiation-induced edema?
Do you pre-medicate with steroids?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
I base my decision on my endoscopy. I feel it's important that radiation oncologists treating head and neck cancer perform their own endoscopy to assess the tumor extent and airway. Imaging (ie CT) can be deceiving depending on cough/clearing throat/holding breath at the time of scan. Converse ...