title: Pelvic insufficiency fractures associated with radiation atrophy: clinical recognition and diagnostic evaluation.
abstract: Pelvic bone injuries are infrequent complications of radiotherapy. However, insufficiency fractures in irradiated pelvic bones may be underdetected, particularly in postmenopausal women. We describe the clinical presentation, radiologic evaluation, and course of disease in three patients with postradiation pelvic insufficiency fractures. Differential diagnosis included metastatic disease, tumor recurrence, and second malignancy. Recognition of radiographic features may prevent unnecessary, possibly morbid treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1030, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mumber
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Greven
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Haygood
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy