METHODS
We studied nine gynecologic malignancy patients who underwent
pelvic radiotherapy. Patients' ages, menopausal status,
external pelvic radiotherapy dose, IF localization area and development
time, treatment, and treatment response time were
investigated.
RESULTS
The mean age was 54 years. Five patients were postmenopausal,
and five patients had osteoporosis. The mean follow-up and
development period of IF were 49 and 26.8 months, respectively.
The IF field was located in the sacrum in 8 patients
and the sacroiliac joint in 1 patient. Pelvic pain was the initial
complaint in 8 patients. One patient was asymptomatic. IF
formation time ranged from 6-156 months. After symptomatic
medical therapy and resting, the visual analogue scale (VAS)
score decreased from 7 initially to 2. Treatment response time
was 3.4 months.
CONCLUSION
IF should be considered as a late complication of external radiotherapy
in patients experiencing pelvic pain after pelvic
radiotherapy.
Keywords: External pelvic radiotherapy; gynecologic malignancy; pelvic pain
