Vertebral osteoradionecrosis. Report of a new case with a review of the literature

With reference to the eighth case of vertebral radionecrosis reported in the literature, developed three years after radiotherapy for cervical cancer, the authors recall that diagnosis rests on a set of clinical evidence: development of one or several compression fractures within the irradiated area and following exposure to more than 30 grays; roentgenologic evidence consisting in integrity of the neural arch and stability of roentgenologic evidence findings over time; lastly, pathologic evidence, especially the absence of metastatic cells in biopsy specimens from the vertebral body. Supportive management usually allows to wait out the period of pain resulting from collapse of the gangrenous areas