Alteration of facial growth after radiotherapy: orthodontic, surgical and prosthetic rehabilitation.

Most patients treated in childhood with radiotherapy for head and neck tumors develop craniofacial alterations related to impaired growth of the irradiated regions. These deformities have a significant functional and aesthetic impact, generating physiological and social troubles. The therapeutic solutions are mostly surgical and multidisciplinary. In this article, we describe the orthodontic and surgical care of a teenager treated with radiotherapy for a bilateral retinoblastoma at the age of 8 month and a half. The patient presented growth defects of the middle third of the face. These growth deficiencies are at the origin of significant aesthetic and physical disorders. Moreover, the three-dimensional skeletal abnormalities and the histological changes of these irradiated tissues make surgical management of the cases complex and specific.