RADIATION INDUCED SUBACUTE SPONTANEOUS BLADDER RUPTURE IN CERVICAL CANCER PATIENT: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with locally advanced cases often necessitating multimodal treatment, in which radiation therapy remains the mainstay. Although effective, radiation therapy can lead to severe, albeit rare, complications such as spontaneous bladder rupture (SBR). This report presents a case of a 47-year-old woman with FIGO Stage IVa cervical adenocarcinoma who developed SBR following external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) without the inclusion of brachytherapy due to the tumors size. Initially managed with conservative treatment, her condition progressed to septic shock, necessitating urgent surgical intervention. Histopathological analysis of the partial resection of the bladder revealed radiation-induced bladder wall inflammation and necrosis without tumor infiltration. The patient ultimately succumbed to septic complications, underscoring the high morbidity associated with radiation-induced SBR. A literature review was conducted to contextualize this case, identifying 14 other reported cases of SBR in cervical cancer patients. This report aims to raise awareness of SBR as a rare but life-threatening complication, stressing the need for early detection, intervention, and optimized treatment strategies.