The British Journal of Radiology, Vol 69, Issue 822 548-554, Copyright © 1996 by British Institute of Radiology

ARTICLES

Incidence and possible aetiological factors in the development of pelvic insufficiency fractures following radical radiotherapy

P Bliss, CA Parsons and PR Blake
Pelvic Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London.

Five patients out of a total of 183 treated with radical radiotherapy for carcinoma of cervix at The Royal Marsden Hospital from 1991 to 1994 inclusive have developed severe pelvic fractures. Two patients had rheumatoid arthritis, one of whom died as a result of the radiation induced damage. This patient developed radiological evidence of radionecrosis within 1 month of completing radiotherapy. There are very few reports in the literature of such a rapid onset. We suggest that the presence of a connective tissue disorder in a patient with other risk factors such as steroid use, old age and osteopenia should alert the clinician to the risk of radionecrosis following radical irradiation.

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