Radiation therapy has been known to have a prophylactic effect for heterotopic ossification (HO), but until now it has not been known to have a therapeutic effect for established HO. We report a case of established HO compounded with a sudden increase in activity, that was improved with radiation therapy. A patient with traumatic brain injury had HO in both hips and thighs two months after the initial trauma. The existing level of HO activity suddenly increased seven months after the initial trauma, and was accompanied by severe pain that was refractory to indomethacin. We assumed that the pain was caused by the increased activity of HO on the basis of clinical symptoms and laboratory results. Initially, the patient received radiation therapy to the left lower extremity, with a total dose of 20 Gy in ten fractions. Next, the patient received radiation therapy at the same dosage to the right lower extremity, after which the pain and level of serum alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased. The patient experienced a mild pancytopenia as a side effect of the radiation therapy, but it was not severe enough to stop the radiation therapy, given the patient's suffering from the increased HO activity.
Adult ; Brain Injuries/complications* ; Case Report ; Human ; Male ; Ossification, Heterotopic/radiotherapy*

Heterotopic bone formation is a complication which occurs in 0.6 to 61.7% of patients after total hip replacement arthroplasty. We reviewed 4 patients (8 hips) who received postoperative irradiation on their hips for prevention of heterotopic bone formation in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital from January 1981 through August 1985. Radiation therapy was started 6 to 10 days postoperatively with the dosage of 2,000 cGy given in 10 fractions. As a result, 7 hips had Grade 0 and 1 hip had Grade 1 heterotopic ossification according to modified Brooker system. Our result and review of the literatures strongly support that the postoperative radiotherapy is effective for prevention of heterotopic bone formation in high risk group.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Hip ; Humans ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteogenesis* ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy ; Seoul

Radiotherapy is used to treat not only malignant tumors but also benign inflammatory and hypertrophic diseases. Because of concerns about the potential hazards of irradiation, physicians in many countries, especially in North America, ruled radiotherapy out of medical practice for non-malignant diseases. Low-dose radiotherapy modulates the inflammatory response, providing an anti-inflammatory effect. Many researchers have reported low-dose radiotherapy efficacious for degenerative and inflammatory diseases. There are broad potential clinical indications for radiotherapy of non-malignant diseases. The general indications for radiotherapy for non-malignant disorders are acute/chronic painful degenerative diseases, such as chronic or acute painful osteoarthritic diseases of various joints; hypertrophic (hyperproliferative) disorders of soft tissues, such as early stages of Morbus Dupuytren and Ledderhose, keloids and pterygium; functional diseases, such as dysthyroid ophthalmopathy and arteriovenous malformations; and others, such as prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification. Radiotherapy for non-malignant disorders may be safely and effectively used, especially in older patients who suffered from these disorders and those who are reluctant to use other treatment options.
Acute Pain ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Dupuytren Contracture ; Graves Ophthalmopathy ; Humans ; Joints ; Keloid ; North America ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteoarthritis ; Pterygium ; Radiotherapy* ; Tendinopathy

Radiotherapy is used to treat not only malignant tumors but also benign inflammatory and hypertrophic diseases. Because of concerns about the potential hazards of irradiation, physicians in many countries, especially in North America, ruled radiotherapy out of medical practice for non-malignant diseases. Low-dose radiotherapy modulates the inflammatory response, providing an anti-inflammatory effect. Many researchers have reported low-dose radiotherapy efficacious for degenerative and inflammatory diseases. There are broad potential clinical indications for radiotherapy of non-malignant diseases. The general indications for radiotherapy for non-malignant disorders are acute/chronic painful degenerative diseases, such as chronic or acute painful osteoarthritic diseases of various joints; hypertrophic (hyperproliferative) disorders of soft tissues, such as early stages of Morbus Dupuytren and Ledderhose, keloids and pterygium; functional diseases, such as dysthyroid ophthalmopathy and arteriovenous malformations; and others, such as prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification. Radiotherapy for non-malignant disorders may be safely and effectively used, especially in older patients who suffered from these disorders and those who are reluctant to use other treatment options.
Acute Pain ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Dupuytren Contracture ; Graves Ophthalmopathy ; Humans ; Joints ; Keloid ; North America ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteoarthritis ; Pterygium ; Radiotherapy* ; Tendinopathy

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is frequently seen on rehabilitation units after spinal cord injuries, fractures, brain injuries, and limb amputations. Currently, there is no effective treatment for HO other than prophylaxis with anti-inflammatory medications, irradiation, and bisphosphonate administration. These prophylactic treatments are not effective for managing ectopic bone once it has formed. Here we describe three cases of established neurogenic HO treated with radiation therapy (RT). All patients had decreased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone-specific ALP levels with decreased pain but increased range of motion immediately after RT. Post-treatment X-rays revealed no further growth of the HO. All patients maintained clinical and laboratory improvements 4 or 6 months after the RT. Our results suggest that RT is safe and effective in decreasing pain and activity of neurogenic HO.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amputation ; Brain Injuries ; Extremities ; Humans ; Ossification, Heterotopic* ; Radiotherapy ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord Injuries

Heterotopic calcification following head and neck irradiation has rarely been reported. It usually develops as a late complication of radiotherapy in patients with malignancies, including breast cancer, lymphoma, and genitourinary malignancies. The occurrence of heterotopic calcification in the prevertebral space of the cervical spine has not been described as a late complication of irradiation. Here, we report a case of prevertebral heterotopic calcification in a patient with history of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for tonsil cancer 21 years ago.
Aged ; Calcinosis/*etiology/pathology/radiography ; *Cervical Vertebrae/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Ossification, Heterotopic/*etiology/radiography ; Radiation Injuries/complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tonsillar Neoplasms/*radiotherapy

PURPOSE: Heterotopic ossification is a well-known postoperative and post-traumatic complication of the elbow. We reviewed the treatment outcome for the use of low-dose radiation after surgical intervention of the elbow to prevent recurrence of heterotopic ossification (HO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with HO underwent surgical intervention and postoperative radiotherapy of the elbow. The median age of the patients was 29 years (16~75 years), and 27 of the patients were men and 18 were women. The occurrence of HO was mainly due to surgery after fracture (24/45) and traumatic injury (21/45). Limitation of the range of motion (ROM) was the most common symptom of the patients. Thirty-four patients received postoperative radiotherapy with a dose of 8 Gy in 2 fractions; 5 patients received a dose of 10 Gy in 5 fractions and 6 patients received a dose of 7 Gy in 1 fraction. Postoperative radiotherapy was given on the first two postoperative days for most of the patients. Sixteen patients were not given anti-inflammatory medication and 29 patients were given NSAIDs for 1~8 months. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 18 months (range 6~72 months), 41 patients showed clinical improvement and two patients did not show improvement. Assessment of the ROM showed a mean improvement from 0~135degrees to 60~145degrees (p=0.028), and assessment of the functional outcome according to MEPI was from (15~95) to (80~100) (p<0.0001). Two of the 34 patients that were followed-up with radiography had mild radiological recurrence of heterotopic ossification. No complications were observed after the radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that low-dose radiation administered after surgical intervention is safe and effective to prevent the recurrence of HO in the elbow.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Elbow* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Ossification, Heterotopic* ; Radiography ; Radiotherapy* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recurrence* ; Treatment Outcome