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Reversible brachial plexopathy following primary radiation therapy for breast cancer

Journal Article · · Cancer Treat. Rep.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5449861
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Reversible brachial plexopathy has occurred in very low incidence in patients with breast carcinoma treated definitively with radiation therapy. Of 565 patients treated between January 1968 and December 1979 with moderate doses of supervoltage radiation therapy (average axillary dose of 5000 rad in 5 weeks), eight patients (1.4%) developed the characteristic symptoms at a median time of 4.5 months after radiation therapy. This syndrome consists of paresthesias in all patients, with weakness and pain less commonly seen. The symptom complex differs from other previously described brachial plexus syndromes, including paralytic brachial neuritis, radiation-induced injury, and carcinoma. A possible relationship to adjuvant chemotherapy exists, though the etiology is not well-understood. The cases described demonstrate temporal clustering. Resolution is always seen.
OSTI ID:
5449861
Journal Information:
Cancer Treat. Rep.; (United States), Journal Name: Cancer Treat. Rep.; (United States) Vol. 65:9-10; ISSN CTRRD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
550900 -- Pathology
560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CARCINOMAS
DISEASES
DOSES
ETIOLOGY
GLANDS
MAMMARY GLANDS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVE TISSUE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATHOLOGY
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
TISSUES