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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian Journal of Neurosurgery 2020; 9(02): 099-105
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712272
Original Article

Radiation-Induced Brachial Plexopathy in Breast Cancer and the Role of Surgical Treatment

Kenan Kıbıcı 
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Altınbas University School of Medicine Bahcelievler Medical Park Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
,
Berrin Erok 
2   Cihanbeyli State Hospital, Department of Radiology, Konya, Turkey
,
Ali Önder Atca 
3   Department of Radiology, Altınbas University School of Medicine, Bahcelievler Medical Park Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
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Abstract

Objective We aimed to evaluate improvement in the pain, motor, and sensory functions after neurosurgical intervention, by objective methods in patients with radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP), as a complication of radiotherapy (RT).

Materials and Methods In our study, 11 patients, who experienced grade 3 or 4 brachial plexopathy according to the LENT-SOMA (late effects of normal tissue—subjective, objective, management, analytic) side-effect index, as a complication of RT which was performed after being operated for breast cancer, were included. In the postoperative period pain, sensation, and motor function loss were followed.

Results There was apparent regression in the pain. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) value decreased to 4 from the preoperative VAS value of 9.4. However, no significant improvement was observed in either sensory and motor functions.

Conclusion RIBP is a progressive disease in breast cancer patients after radiotherapy. Evaluation of the results of applied surgical treatments and changes in the results with time is important to direct the treatment. Neurolysis should only be considered when other treatment methods fail and should be considered as an irreversible and potentially permanent procedure.

Keywords

radiation-induced brachial plexopathy - neurolysis - radiotherapy - breast cancer


Publication History

Article published online:
26 August 2020

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