Myonecrosis as a rare side effect of stereotactic body radiotherapy for bone metastases: Report of two cases and a comprehensive literature review

Abstract

Stereotactic body radiotherapy is a highly effective form of radiation therapy for palliation of bone metastases, but it can also lead to rare but severe side effects, such as myonecrosis. According to the literature, the incidence of myonecrosis after stereotactic body radiotherapy is low and mostly dose dependent. It is crucial to consider the potential impact of immunotherapy and other systemic therapies in the assessment. The course of radiation myonecrosis can vary, and corticosteroids or vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors may potentially play a role in its treatment. Herein, we report two patients presenting with myonecrosis after stereotactic body radiotherapy for bone metastasis.