Fecal incontinence after pelvic radiotherapy: evidences for a lumbosacral plexopathy. Report of a case.

Abstract

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. Anorectal, bladder, and lower limb sensory-motor functions, as biologic and morphologic explorations, were performed on repeated occasions. 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. Because no other cause except radiation was demonstrated in this case, we suggest that plexopathy may be a late-occurring complication of radiotherapy.