Radiation osteitis following irradiation for breast cancer

Radiographs of the shoulder girdle were examined in 180 women who attended the breast follow-up clinic at the Department of Radiotherapy, Edinburgh. These comprised 52 controls who had been treated by radical mastectomy alone and 128 patients who had received post-operative X-ray therapy. The significance of osteoporosis as a sequel to irradiation is doubtful as it occurred in a substantial proportion of the control cases. Osteitis of severe degree occurred in 13.3% of patients who had been irradiated and was present in a mild form in a further 8.6%. The development of severe osteitis requires an NSD of 1650 rets or more. Estimates of the frequency of radiation osteitis are of no value unless detailed information is also provided about the techniques and quality of radiation.