Post-radiation sarcomas: a review of the clinical and imaging features in 63 cases.
OBJECTIVE
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.


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 50.1 Gy, 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.
Sheppard
D G
DG
Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Radiology, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. declans@tuht.scot.nhs.uk
Libshitz
H I
HI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed