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Judith Gebauer Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany

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Claire E Higham Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK

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Victoria Chatzimavridou-Grigoriadou Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, School of Medical Sciences, Manchester, UK

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Lisa H Barraclough Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, School of Medical Sciences, Manchester, UK

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Rohit Kochhar Department of Clinical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

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Lucy Buckley Department of Radiology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

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Nooreen Alam Department of Radiotherapy, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

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Claire E Higham Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK

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Background

Radiotherapy-related insufficiency fractures (RRIFs) represent a common, burdensome consequence of pelvic radiotherapy. Their underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and data on the effect of osteoporosis are contradictory, with limited studies assessing bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Methods

BMD by DXA (Hologic) scan and fracture risk following pelvic RRIF were retrospectively assessed in 39 patients (median age 68 years) at a tertiary cancer centre. Patient characteristics and treatment history are presented narratively; correlations were explored using univariate regression analyses.

Results

Additional cancer treatments included chemotherapy (n = 31), surgery (n = 20) and brachytherapy (n = 19). Median interval between initiation of radiotherapy and RRIF was 11 (7.5–20.8) and that between RRIF and DXA 3 was (1–6) months. Three patients had normal BMD, 16 had osteopenia and 16 osteoporosis, following World Health Organization classification. Four patients were <40 years at the time of DXA (all Z-scores > –2). Median 10-year risk for hip and major osteoporotic fracture was 3.1% (1.5–5.7) and 11.5% (7.1–13.8), respectively. Only 33.3% of patients had high fracture risk (hip fracture >4% and/or major osteoporotic >20%), and 31% fell above the intervention threshold per National Osteoporosis Guidelines Group (NOGG) guidance (2017). Higher BMD was predicted by lower pelvic radiotherapy dose (only in L3 and L4), concomitant chemotherapy and higher body mass index.

Conclusion

At the time of RRIF, most patients did not have osteoporosis, some had normal BMD and overall had low fracture risk. Whilst low BMD is a probable risk factor, it is unlikely to be the main mechanism underlying RRIFs, and further studies are required to understand the predictive value of BMD.

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