Pelvic Insufficiency Fractures After External Beam Radiation Therapy for Gynecologic Cancers: A Meta-analysis and Meta-regression of 3929 Patients

Lucas Gomes Sapienza, Mila de Moura Behar Pontremoli Salcedo, Matthew Stephen Ning, Anuja Jhingran, Ann H. Klopp, Vinícius Fernando Calsavara, Kathleen M. Schmeler, Maria José Leite Gomes, Emanuel de Freitas Carvalho, Glauco Baiocchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the overall rate, symptomatic proportion, and most common sites of pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF) after external beam radiation therapy for gynecologic cancers based on posttreatment computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, or bone scintigraphy. Methods and Materials: A systematic search of databases (PubMed and EMBASE) was performed (CRD42019125679). The pooled summary of overall PIF and the proportion of symptomatic cases were calculated using the random-effects model weighted by the inverse variance. A multivariate meta-regression was performed to evaluate potential sources of heterogeneity regarding PIF fractures. Results: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria (total 3929 patients). Five hundred four patients developed PIF, translating to an overall rate of 14% (95% confidence interval, 10%-18%, based on 21 studies). Among these cases with PIF, the proportion of symptomatic patients was 61% (95% confidence interval, 52%-69%, based on 14 studies). The total number of PIFs was 704 (mean, 1.72 PIFs per each patient to develop PIF, based on 14 studies). More recent series (P = .0074) and the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy (P = .0299) were associated with lower fracture rates. The most common fracture sites were sacroiliac joint (39.7%), body of the sacrum (33.9%), pubis (13%), lumbar vertebra (7%), iliac bone (2.8%), acetabulum (2.1%), and femoral head/neck (1.5%). The median time to fracture was 7.1 to 19 months after radiation therapy. Conclusions: The incidence of PIF after radiation therapy for gynecologic cancers is high (14%), with the majority affecting the sacral bone or joint (73.6%), although this risk appears to be lower with intensity modulated radiation therapy. Posttreatment bone surveillance is warranted in this population because nearly 40% of patients were asymptomatic at the time of PIF diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)475-484
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume106
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

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