Osteonecrosis of sternum and rib in a patient treated for Hodgkin's disease

A 39-year-old man is described in whom osteonecrosis of the manubrium sterni developed 23 months and of a rib 25 months after treatment for Hodgkin's disease Stage IIIB with polychemotherapy and subdiaphragmatic radiotherapy. The radiologic and histologic characteristics of this very rare localization of steroid-associated osteonecrosis are discussed.