Fecal incontinence after pelvic radiotherapy: Evidences for a lumbosacral plexopathy

PURPOSE: Clinical manifestations of radiation-induced lumbosacral plexopathy remain a rare event. We report the case of a 62-year-old woman with neurogenic fecal incontinence that occurred after radiotherapy of cervical carcinoma. METHODS: Anorectal, bladder, and lower limb sensory-motor functions, as biologic and morphologic explorations, were performed on repeated occasions. RESULTS: Anorectal manometry, conduction times of pudendal nerves, sacral latencies, and pudendal nerve-evoked corticals disclosed lesions of the lumbosacral plexus that was confirmed by bladder manometry and electromyography of lower limbs. Biologic and morphologic explorations were within normal ranges. CONCLUSION: Because no other cause except radiation was demonstrated in this case, we suggest that plexopathy may be a late-occurring complication of radiotherapy.