Lumbo-sacral radiculopathy induced by radiation.
Two patients had lumbo-sacral radiculopathy following radiation treatment of cancer. Twenty previously reported cases were similar. The clinical picture is one of progressive motor and sensory loss in the legs, usually appearing within a year after radiation, but sometimes delayed up to several years. Experimental studies quoted indicate greater vulnerability of peripheral nerves to ionizing radiation than has been previously recognized. Lumbo-sacral radiculopathy is readily produced in the experimental animal (rat) and affords an experimental model closely resembling the human cases reported.
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy