Post-radiation sarcomas: A review of the clinical and imaging features in 63 cases

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 we re 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 GS, with a mean latency period for t he development of the sarcoma of 15.5 years, The most common primary diagno ses were breast cancer, lymphoma and head and neck cancer. The most common sarcoma histopathologies were osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocyto ma, The most common imaging findings were a soft tissue mass and bone destr uction. CONCLUSIONS: Post-radiation sarcomas, while uncommon, are not rare. The ima ging findings are not pathognomonic, but an appreciation of the expected la tency period may help to suggest the diagnosis. Sheppard, D. G. and Libshit z, H. I. (2001). Clinical Radiology 56, 22-29, (C) 2001 The Royal College o f Radiologists.