What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a 61-year-old woman who developed delayed radiation myelopathy after receiving radiation therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
What They Found
A 61-year-old woman developed rapid progressive numbness and weakness in both legs 22 months after receiving palliative radiation therapy (39 Gy in 3 Gy fractions). She was diagnosed with delayed radiation myelopathy and treated with corticosteroids, heparin, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but these treatments were not effective, and she experienced complete leg paralysis within 3 months.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Delayed radiation myelopathy is a serious condition that can occur after radiation therapy, leading to rapid disability. While hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a recognized treatment for delayed radiation injury, this case highlights that it may not be effective for all patients, especially in advanced stages of delayed radiation myelopathy.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers delayed radiation myelopathy, which falls under delayed radiation injury, a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings from this study cannot be applied to a larger patient population.