Sonographic Features of Pectoralis Muscle Necrosis Secondary to Gemcitabine-Induced Radiation Recall Case Report and Review of Current Literature

Radiation recall is defined as an inflammatory reaction within a previously treated radiation field during chemotherapy treatment. 1 Gemcitabine is one of the most common cytotoxic agents implicated in the development of this condition, and for the most part it manifests clinically as a skin reaction (radiation recall dermatitis [RRD]). 2 Radiation recall can however manifest in other tissues such as the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, 3 and rare cases of gemcitabine-induced radiation recall muscle necrosis have been described. 4-7 We present a case of bilateral pectoralis muscle necrosis secondary to radiation recall in a patient treated with gemcitabine in which sonography and computed tomography (CT) provided substantial clinical assistance.