Osteomalacia following abdomal irradiation

This article presents two cases of osteomalacia related to vitamin D deficiency after radiation therapy. Both patients had typical signs of serious small bowel affection with malabsorption and diarrhea, and fractures, osteoporosis, histological osteomalacia and serological vitamin D deficiency. Both patients responded to combined treatment with vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and vitamin B 1 2. Pathogenetic mechanisms, symptomatology and therapy are discussed and relevant litterature is reviewed. It is suggested that examination of serum 1.25 dihydroxy- and 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels be added to the diagnostic tests whenever small bowel damage after radiation is suspected