Radiation recall phenomenon presenting as myositis triggered by carboplatin plus paclitaxel and related literature review

J Cancer Res Ther. 2014 Oct-Dec;10(4):1093-7. doi: 10.4103/0973-1482.146090.

Abstract

While most case reports to date are radiation recall dermatitis, radiation recall myositis, which is a distinct form of radiation recall phenomenon caused by carboplatin plus paclitaxel, has not been reported. We treated a 57-year-old female patient who suffered from recurrent cervical cancer. When the patient developed a new left sacral metastasis, salvage radiotherapy (total dose 60 Gy) was administered. Four weeks later, chemotherapy using carboplatin plus paclitaxel was initiated. Four months after chemotherapy, the patient complained of severe pain in her left buttock. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), edematous changes and increased signal densities of left gluteus maximus and medius muscles were noted suggesting myositis. The border of the high signal intensity territory of the muscles was sharp and clearly corresponded with the recent irradiation field. We concluded that the patient had radiation recall myositis triggered by paclitaxel-carboplatin. Symptoms were controlled by analgesics, and there was no recurrence.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Carboplatin / adverse effects*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Myositis / chemically induced*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Paclitaxel / adverse effects*
  • Radiation Injuries / etiology*
  • Salvage Therapy
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / complications
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Carboplatin
  • Paclitaxel