Postirradiation hearing loss: Review

Hearing loss due to irradiation of the head-and-neck region is a rarely reported complication of such a treatment. Although experimental work had been performed in laboratory animals as early as at the turn of the century, substantiated clinical data in large series are lacking. The few reports published are somewhat contradictory as to the incidence, time of onset, type and severity of the hearing loss. Although infrequently encountered, the possibility of radiation-induced hearing loss should be kept in mind. The pertinent literature is reviewed.