A case of delayed radiation-induced lumbosacral radiculoplexopathy after 30 years

ABSTRACT

Lumbosacral radiculoplexopathy in colon cancer treatment is a very rare but serious complication after radiation. We report here a 66-year-old man with slowly progressive lower limb weakness which arose 30 years after local radiation treatment for colon cancer. Electrophysiological studies revealed signs of denervation confined to the lower limbs. Other causes were excluded by clinical presentation, serological, cerebrospinal fluid and imaging studies. This case shows that delayed radiation-induced lumbosacral radiculoplexopathy can occur 30 years after the initial treatment.