Osteogenic sarcoma following treatment with megavoltage radiation and chemotherapy for bone tumors in children

Abstract

While osteogenic sarcoma has been well‐recognized as a late complication of exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation in the orthovoltage energy range, it has been less frequently reported in patients treated with megavoltage radiation. This potential complication should, however, not be dismissed as an occurrence to be seen only after high‐dose orthovoltage radiation. We have recently seen two children who developed osteogenic sarcoma following treatment with megavoltage radiation and combination chemotherapy for primary bone tumors. The implications in regard to aggressive multimodality treatment for pediatric malignancies are discussed.