The Clinical and Radiographic Aspects of Radiation Osteitis

Abstract

Patients with radiation osteitis were studied in regard to the protean manifestations of this entity as it affects the skeleton, with emphasis on distinguishing radiation osteitis from radiation osteogenic sarcoma, metastatic bony involvement, or simple changes of disuse. Bone fragmentation, resorption, and soft tissue calcification may mimic the appearance of a radiation-induced osteogenic sarcoma. In the absence of infectious or traumatic complications, an area of known radiation osteitis which suddenly changes in appearance, becomes symptomatic, or is associated with a mass lesion should be considered neoplastic.