What is the risk of malignancy after low dose radiation for musculoskeletal conditions? This retrospective study looked back at 4699 patients treated with low dose RT. Most received treatment to distal joints (62%), 37% to proximal joints, and 1% to other sites. Most patients were in the 60-80 age range. There were only 3 solid malignancies in irradiated sites (two basal cell carcinomas and a lung cancer), and the risk of solid malignancy was 0.064%. However, there was a slightly higher rate of hematologic malignancy after LDRT to central sites adjacent to marrow regions (2.3% v 1% at 12.5 years). So, the risk of malignancy is extremely rare after low dose RT to distal joints and questionably even related to RT. However, for LDRT to central sites near marrow, a modest increase in hematologic malignancy was observed. | Blach, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2026
