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Postirradiation sarcoma of the head and neck: A report of three late sarcomas following therapeutic irradiation for primary malignancies of the paranasal sinus, nasal cavity, and larynx
Author(s) -
Coia Lawrence R.,
Fazekas John T.,
Kramer Simon
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19801101)46:9<1982::aid-cncr2820460914>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - medicine , larynx , sarcoma , paranasal sinuses , radiation therapy , nasal cavity , radiology , malignancy , sinus (botany) , surgery , pathology , botany , biology , genus
Sarcoma of the head and neck region following irradiation for primary malignancy other than retinoblastoma has rarely been reported. Three cases of postirradiation sarcoma arising in the head and neck region following definitive radiotherapy for primary malignancies of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and larynx are presented. The intervals from initial radiation to diagnosis of sarcoma were 10 years, 101/2 years, and 121/2 years, respectively. The dosage ranged from 6000–6400 rads using conventional fractionation (1750–1811 ret) on a 60 Cobalt teletherapy unit. Methotrexate (25 mg I.V. every three days for seven doses) was utilized during the initial course of radiation in two of the three patients. The cases conform well to established criteria for the diagnosis of radiation‐induced sarcoma. Postirradiation sarcoma of the head and neck region is a remote hazard that must be weighed against the benefits of curative radiation therapy, particularly when treating in the presence of bone disease or when treating retinoblastoma or benign lesions.