Would you give post operative radiation for a pT1N0 parotid low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma with positive margin on the facial nerve to an adolescent?
Would the risk of secondary malignancy affect the decision?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
Yes. Unfortunately, while the risk of second malignancy is not insignificant in an adolescent, the risk of recurrence on the facial nerve margins is expected to be quite high. Recurrence in the future along the nerve would most likely lead to sacrifice of the nerve and the need for adjuvant RT. ...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
This is clearly a challenging situation.
I would always suggest first discussing the case with the pathologist and the surgeon to find out about the positive margin. Some surgeons will say that the margin is not truly positive and that it is just an artifact of the operation. You may change your tr...