Late-onset radiation-induced brachial plexopathy
Kelly Anne Attard1, James Carlos Vella2,3, Charmaine Chircop2,3
1Department of Neurology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta kelly-anne.attard@gov.mt.
BMJ Case Reports
|September 14, 2021
Summary
Late-onset radiation-induced brachial plexopathy can occur years after radiotherapy, even for head and neck cancers. This case highlights the delayed, progressive arm weakness and muscle wasting associated with this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Radiotherapy
Background:
- Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIB P) is a known complication following radiotherapy.
- The late-onset variant typically presents years after treatment, often for breast or lung cancers.
Observation:
- A case of an elderly male patient with progressive left arm weakness, paresthesias, and shoulder girdle muscle wasting is presented.
- The patient had received radiotherapy 15 years prior for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Findings:
- This case illustrates a rare presentation of late-onset RIB P following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
- The insidious onset and progressive nature of symptoms are characteristic of this condition.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering RIB P in patients with delayed neurological deficits after radiotherapy, irrespective of the primary cancer site.
- Suggests the need for long-term surveillance in patients treated with radiation to the neck and shoulder region.
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