Případ pozdní brachiální plexopatie po chemoterapii a radioterapii

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Dear Editor,

Radiation-induced plexus neuropathy refers to a rare late complication of radiotherapy administered to the supraclavicular area and upper part of the thoracic wall. Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP) has been reported as a result of radiation therapy in the treatment of lung, breast, nasopharynx and thyroid cancer, sarcoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, schwannoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (primary plexus tumours) involving the neck, shoulder and upper thorax [1]. The latent period between radiation exposure and clinical manifestations of plexopathy may vary by as much as 1–34 years [2]. Differential diagnosis may prove to be challenging because the symptoms resemble those of the neoplastic involvement of the brachial plexus. Electrophysiological studies are valuable diagnostic tools for the assessment of patients with suspected brachial plexopathy [3].

A 63-year-old female presented with paresthaesias and weakness in her left arm distally to the elbow. She reported experiencing shoulder pain 3 years previously, with motor and sensory deficits in the left arm during the same period. She had undergone physical therapy, resulting in partial improvement of pain, while the motor and sensory deficits persisted. She had undergone left mastectomy approximately 20 years previously, followed by chemotherapy with regional radiotherapy. She was also treated with 50 Gy of radiation in 24 fractions to the internal mammary region and axillary and supraclavicular nodes. Other coexisting conditions included type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and obesity.

During the neurological examination, the patient’s effort was graded on a Medical Research Council scale of 0–5: muscle power 3/5 for the abduction in the left shoulder; 3/5 for the left forearm flexion; 4/5 for the left forearm extension; 1/5 for the left wrist flexion; 1/5 for the left wrist extension; 0/5 for the left thumb abduction and 0/5 for the abduction of the second and the fifth digits of the left hand. Her motor examination revealed the presence of benediction and partial claw hand sign on the left hand, with minimal atrophy in semiflexion posture of the fourth and the fifth digits and abductor digiti minimi muscles (Fig. 1).

Electromyographic studies are shown in Tab. 1. EMG sensory nerve conduction tests failed to elicit left lateral antebrachial and bilateral medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve responses. Needle EMG examination revealed the presence of denervation potentials in the left abductor pollicis brevis and extensor digitorum communis muscles, while signs of neurogenic involvement were identified in the muscles innervated by C5-6-7-8 and T1. Myokymic discharges were observed from the deltoid, biceps and triceps muscles on needle EMG. Somatosensory evoked potential could not be obtained by stimulation of the left median nerve. These findings were believed to be suggestive of an involvement of the upper-medial trunks and particularly, the medial and posterior cords of the lower trunks of the brachial plexus. MRI of the brachial plexus could not be performed due to the excessive obesity of the patient. In the CT examination, the left axillary/supraclavicular study showed no evidence of tumour infiltration. In CSF examination, the protein level was 46 mg/dL slightly above the limit (20–45 mg/dL) and the cell number was 3 (0–5/mm³) and there was no increase.

Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy, which was more common in the past, is now a relatively rare complication of modern radiotherapy, the incidence of which is dependent on several factors including total dose, dose per fraction, patient age and concurrent administration of chemotherapy. Proposed pathophysiological mechanism includes nerve trapping due to radiation-induced fibrosis, chronic oedema, or both. Other implicated factors include a direct toxic effect on neurons and microvascular injury leading to ischaemic injury [4]. In electrodiagnostic studies, 90% of patients exhibited nerve conduction abnormalities and 63% exhibited myokymic discharges [5]. Previous observations suggest that these conditions are more likely to be associated with a prolonged latency period before manifestation and progressive injury; thus, patients who undergo radiotherapy for cancer should be under life-long monitoring for possible complications.

In around 50% of patients with neuralgic amyotrophy (Parsonage-Turner syndrome), a history of a viral disease or immunization and rarely, surgery, trauma, pregnancy, drug dependence or collagen tissue disorder is present [6]. Differential diagnosis includes idiopathic painful amyotrophy or brachial neuritis, which may occur with sudden onset of infection. The pain typically awakens the patient and cannot be localized. The asymmetrical shoulder girdle and arm muscular power loss is generally realized after improvement of the pain [7]. These complaints are followed by atrophy, and sensory symptoms may co-exist. Nerves that arise directly from the roots such as the long thoracic nerve are generally involved. Needle EMG may also show involvement of the brachial plexus. Spontaneous recovery may occur in 1–2 years [8]. Incomplete lesions of the brachial plexus are common and may include the upper part (Erb-Duchenne palsy) or the lower part (Klumpke’s palsy) [6]. In our patient, in particular the distal part of the upper extremity was significantly affected.

Claw hand and benediction posture are characteristic symptoms of hand nerve injury. These are known as the “benediction sign”, resulting from the hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the little and ring finger digits and the flexion of the interphalangeal joints. The benediction sign is present in ulnar neuropathy and appears in partial flexion of the last two digits when the patient extends the fingers and hand. This sign is the result of the weakness of the lumbrical muscles in the hyperextension of the metacarpals of the fourth and the fifth fingers, although the unopposed extension of the extensor digitorum communis muscle. In long-term cases of ulnar nerve lesion, claw hand deformation appears [9].

Many cancer patients undergoing radiation to the head, neck and axilla are at risk of developing RIBP. Patients should be informed about this risk before radiation treatment. The progression of the disease is dependent on the nature of the disease, the phase or stage of the disease and the pathway of the disease. Clinical findings play an important role in the differential diagnosis of radiation plexopathy, with myokymic discharges exhibiting typical changes on EMG.

The Editorial Board declares that the manu script met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

Mehmet Güney Şenol, MD
Department of Neurology
Health Sciences University
34668 Istanbul
Turkey
e-mail: mgsenol@yahoo.com

Accepted for review: 5. 2. 2019
Accepted for print: 22. 1. 2020