A Case of Delayed Radiation Myelopathy of the Thoracic Vertebrae Following Low Dose Radiation Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Delayed radiation myelopathy (DRM) is a rare disorder that rapidly leads to disabilities, and the median incubation period was reported to be about 2 years (from 6 months to a few years). In this report, we describe a 61-year-old woman who presented with rapid progressive numbness and weakness in both legs 22 months after palliative radiation therapy with 39 Gy in 3 Gy fractions. She was diagnosed with DRM of the thoracic vertebrae and was treated sequentially with corticosteroids, heparin, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, they were not effective, and complete paralysis of the legs occurred in 3 months.