Osteoradionecrosis after three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for recurrent cervical cancer presenting as a progressive osteolytic lesion

Ann Nucl Med. 2008 Feb;22(2):139-41. doi: 10.1007/s12149-007-0090-3. Epub 2008 Mar 3.

Abstract

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the pelvic bone presenting as a progressive osteolytic lesion, following three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) with concurrent chemotherapy, is a clinical diagnostic challenge that must be differentiated from an osseous metastasis. We report on a case with an unusual presentation of ORN mimicking bony metastasis that should be taken note of by physicians. A 46-year-old woman who had recurrent cervical cancer in the right pelvic sidewall underwent concurrent salvage chemoradiotherapy. She received 63 Gy 3DCRT. At 22 months, post-RT, an asymptomatic but enlarging osseous defect in the right ilium, located within the area covered by a 95% isodose line, was demonstrated on pelvic computed tomography (CT). ORN was confirmed by whole-body [18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) CT scan and CT-guided bone biopsy. A localized, growing ORN of pelvic bone after high-dose 3DCRT is an uncommon late complication. Differential diagnosis between ORN and bony metastasis may be possible with low FDG uptake of ORN on PET-CT scans.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / adverse effects
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy
  • Ilium / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy*
  • Osteolysis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Osteolysis / etiology
  • Osteolysis / pathology*
  • Osteoradionecrosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Osteoradionecrosis / etiology
  • Osteoradionecrosis / pathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal / adverse effects*
  • Salvage Therapy / adverse effects
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / surgery
  • Whole Body Imaging

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18