The diagnosis by computed tomography of brachial plexus lesions following radiotherapy for carcinoma of the breast

The region of the brachial plexus in the root of neck and axilla was examined by computed tomography (CT) in 62 patients attending the Royal Marsden Hospital. Forty-two of these patients had been treated by surgery and subsequent radiotherapy for carcinoma of the breast. Computed tomography was able to identify varying grades of abnormality that were ascribed to radiation fibrosis. Twenty-eight patients had neurological symptoms affecting the arm or hand on the treated side and CT changes were seen in 96%. The grading and significance of these CT abnormalities is discussed. The patients had been treated by two different radiotherapy techniques (three-field and four-field) which utilised either a large or small treatment fraction. The higher grades of abnormality on CT were seen in 57% of those treated with the large fraction size and 27% of those treated with the small fraction size. However, the changes on CT did not relate to the different radiotherapy techniques.