Avascular necrosis of bone complicating treatment of malignant lymphoma

Over a 15-year period, 12 patients were seen at the Ontario Cancer Institute in whom avascular necrosis of bone development after or during treatment for malignant lymphoma. All but one were treated with systemic chemotherapy that included high-dose intermittent corticosteroids. The average time of onset of symptoms was 34 months (range, eight of 72 months) after an average of 9.0 g of prednisone (range, 1.4 to 18.75 g). The one exception was a …