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← Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (PDQ®)

FOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING

Radiation therapy

Source: Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.

Context: Musculoskeletal System / Radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and other treatments increase the risk of bone and joint late effects.

Radiation therapy can stop or slow the growth of bone and muscle. The type of bone and joint late effects depends on the part of the body that received radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may cause:

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changes in the way the face or skull form, especially when high-dose radiation with or without chemotherapy is given to children before age 5 years

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short stature (being shorter than normal)

curving of the spine (scoliosis) or rounding of the spine (kyphosis)

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one arm or leg is shorter than the other arm or leg

weak or thin bones that can break easily (osteoporosis)

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parts of a bone to die from a lack of blood flow (osteoradionecrosis), especially the jaw

a benign tumor of the bone (osteochondroma)

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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice