Post-radiation Sarcomas: A Review of the Clinical and Imaging Features in 63 Cases

• Published in: Clinical radiology Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 22 - 29
• Main Authors: SHEPPARD, DECLAN G., LIBSHITZ, HERMANN I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - diagnosis; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - etiology; Neoplasms, Second Primary - diagnosis; Neoplasms, Second Primary - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms, Second Primary - etiology; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteosarcoma - diagnosis; Osteosarcoma - diagnostic imaging; Osteosarcoma - etiology; radiation, injurious effects, sarcoma, neoplasm, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Retrospective Studies; Sarcoma - diagnosis; Sarcoma - diagnostic imaging; Sarcoma - etiology; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - diagnosis; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - etiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; radiation, injurious effects, sarcoma, neoplasm, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging; Human; Clinical stage; Radiodiagnosis; Sarcoma; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Secondary effect; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Malignant tumor; Review; Radiotherapy; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1053/crad.2000.0599

AIMS: The development of sarcomas is a recognized complication of radiation therapy. We set out to retrospectively review the clinical and therapeutic demographics, as well as the cross-sectional imaging findings in patients with post-radiation sarcomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients with post-radiation sarcomas were identified at a single institution. Computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging was available for all patients. The medical records were reviewed for the primary diagnoses, the radiation history, and the latency period to the development of the sarcoma. RESULTS: There were 43 women and 20 men with a mean age of 52.8 years. The mean radiation dose delivered was 50.1Gy, with a mean latency period for the development of the sarcoma of 15.5 years. The most common primary diagnoses were breast cancer, lymphoma and head and neck cancer. The most common sarcoma histopathologies were osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The most common imaging findings were a soft tissue mass and bone destruction. CONCLUSIONS: Post-radiation sarcomas, while uncommon, are not rare. The imaging findings are not pathognomonic, but an appreciation of the expected latency period may help to suggest the diagnosis.Sheppard, D. G. and Libshitz, H. I. (2001). Clinical Radiology56, 22–29.