Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy for Locoregionally Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma at Tongue Base After Chemoradiotherapy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed treatment. We report a successful case of NIR-PIT for post-irradiation locoregionally recurrent oropharyngeal cancer at the tongue base. A 60-year-old man following primary treatment for oropharyngeal cancer at the tongue base by endoscopy (rT1N0M0). He had been treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. NIR-PIT was performed under general anesthesia at the tongue base. Successful therapeutic effects were obtained with no postoperative functional impairment. This case report highlights two important management issues: tracheostomy and pain management after NIR-PIT. NIR-PIT for head and neck cancer will provide a curative treatment option for the locoregional recurrent or unresectable disease following radiotherapy and surgery. It was considered important to ensure sufficient optical tissue penetration range, control pain in the perioperative period, and take measures to prevent edema in the airway.