Management of long-term postirradiation periclavicular complications

Four cases of periclavicular postirradiation sarcoma and two cases of clavicular osteoradionecrosis with pathologic fractures are reported. All six cases presented more than 10 years after irradiation for breast cancer (five) or nasopharyngeal carcinoma (one). A review of radiotherapy received showed that they were subjected to unconventional radiation schedules (hypofractionation or high dose per fraction treatment). An approach to diagnosis and management of periclavicular lesions arising long after therapeutic irradiation is presented and the unique problems encountered with periclavicular surgery are discussed.