Biomaterial Database

Post-radiotherapy osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis: computed tomographic features. 1998

T A Wignall, and B M Carrington, and J P Logue

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Withington, Manchester, UK.

We report the clinical and computed tomography (CT) features of seven patients with osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis following radiotherapy for bladder (n=4) or cervical (n=3) carcinoma. The patients presented with fistulae (n=5), pain (n=1) or small bowel obstruction (n=1) between 6 and 19 years after radiotherapy. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery with histology or bacteriology of the symphysis pubis and/or associated abscess in all patients. In addition to bone destruction, other features identified on CT included abscesses, bowel loops adherent to the symphysis pubis and/or communicating with an abscess cavity, a soft tissue mass enveloping the residual bone, and fistulae. The combination of clinical and radiological features suggests osteomyelitis and, for patients who have had pelvic radiotherapy, this treatable condition should be included in the differential diagnosis of solitary symphysis pubis destruction.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010019	Osteomyelitis	INFLAMMATION of the bone as a result of infection. It may be caused by a variety of infectious agents, especially pyogenic (PUS - producing) BACTERIA.	Osteomyelitides
D011631	Pubic Symphysis	A slightly movable cartilaginous joint which occurs between the pubic bones.	Pubic Symphyses,Symphyses, Pubic,Symphysis, Pubic
D011832	Radiation Injuries	Harmful effects of non-experimental exposure to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation in VERTEBRATES.	Radiation Sickness,Radiation Syndrome,Injuries, Radiation,Injury, Radiation,Radiation Injury,Radiation Sicknesses,Radiation Syndromes,Sickness, Radiation,Sicknesses, Radiation,Syndrome, Radiation,Syndromes, Radiation
D011878	Radiotherapy	The use of IONIZING RADIATION to treat malignant NEOPLASMS and some benign conditions.	Radiotherapy, Targeted,Targeted Radiotherapy,Radiation Therapy,Radiation Therapy, Targeted,Radiation Treatment,Targeted Radiation Therapy,Radiation Therapies,Radiation Therapies, Targeted,Radiation Treatments,Radiotherapies,Radiotherapies, Targeted,Targeted Radiation Therapies,Targeted Radiotherapies,Therapies, Radiation,Therapies, Targeted Radiation,Therapy, Radiation,Therapy, Targeted Radiation,Treatment, Radiation
D001749	Urinary Bladder Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the URINARY BLADDER.	Bladder Cancer,Bladder Neoplasms,Cancer of Bladder,Bladder Tumors,Cancer of the Bladder,Malignant Tumor of Urinary Bladder,Neoplasms, Bladder,Urinary Bladder Cancer,Bladder Cancers,Bladder Neoplasm,Bladder Tumor,Cancer, Bladder,Cancer, Urinary Bladder,Neoplasm, Bladder,Neoplasm, Urinary Bladder,Tumor, Bladder,Tumors, Bladder,Urinary Bladder Neoplasm
D002583	Uterine Cervical Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the UTERINE CERVIX.	Cancer of Cervix,Cancer of the Cervix,Cancer of the Uterine Cervix,Cervical Cancer,Cervical Neoplasms,Cervix Cancer,Cervix Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Cervical,Neoplasms, Cervix,Uterine Cervical Cancer,Cancer, Cervical,Cancer, Cervix,Cancer, Uterine Cervical,Cervical Cancer, Uterine,Cervical Cancers,Cervical Neoplasm,Cervical Neoplasm, Uterine,Cervix Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Cervix,Neoplasm, Uterine Cervical,Uterine Cervical Cancers,Uterine Cervical Neoplasm
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005260	Female		Females