Postirradiation osteogenic sarcoma with unilateral metastatic spread within the field of irradiation. Case report and review of the literature.

Osteogenic sarcoma is a rare but well documented complication of radiation therapy. To date, only 28 cases of radiation induced osteogenic sarcoma, following therapy for breast carcinoma, have been reported. Only one case of postirradiation sarcoma arising in the sternum has occurred and this followed irradiation to the neck. The subject of this article is therefore only the first reported case of osteosarcoma of the sternum, secondary to irradiation for breast carcinoma. A further unusual and unreported feature is the development of unilateral metastatic disease in the field of irradiation. Possible causes for this occurrence are discussed and the literature regarding postirradiation sarcoma is reviewed.