Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-5-2025
Abstract
Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP) is a gruesome complication of cancers treated with radiation therapy around the lung and chest wall, head and neck, and breast and axilla. It can occur in an early-onset (transient) or a late-onset (chronic) fashion. The diagnosis involves exclusion of a compressive neoplastic process, either new or recurrent, and relies largely on patient symptomatology without well-validated, objective scoring systems. Treatment options remain limited as no major advances have been made to prevent or halt disease progression. This article reviews the background incidence, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of RIBP. In addition to surgical treatment options, nonsurgical modalities, often the mainstay of symptom management, are discussed. Lastly, the current challenges in treating RIBP are highlighted with an emphasis on targeting the underlying culprit—radiation-induced fibrosis.
Recommended Citation
Lambi, Alex G.; Holly, Tomas; Tomlinson, Ryan E.; and Barbe, Mary F., "Radiation-Induced Brachial Plexopathy: Current Understanding, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options" (2025). Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers. Paper 259.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/orthofp/259
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Language
English
Comments
This article is the author's final published version in the Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online, Volume 8, Issue 1, January 2026, Article number 100896.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2025.100896. Copyright © 2025, THE AUTHORS. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The American Society for Surgery of the Hand.