Hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation for tuberculosis: Radiation-induced carcinoma

SummaryRadiation may cause radiation-induced cancers after a long latency period. In a group of 111 patients surgically treated for hypopharyngeal carcinoma, patients previously treated with radiotherapy for tuberculosis in the neck were compared to patients without previous radiotherapy. Seven patients (7.4%) underwent radiotherapy (median age 15 years) and developed a hypopharyngeal carcinoma (median age 70 years, median latency period 54.4 year). Considering this long latency period and the localisation in the previous radiation field these tumours can be classified as potentially radiation-induced carcinomas. Patients with potentially radiation-induced carcinomas were significantly older when the hypopharyngeal carcinoma was diagnosed (p = 0.048), were more frequently females (p = 0.05) and had a worse 5-year regional control rate (p = 0.048). When radiotherapy is considered in young patients the risk of induction of tumours has to be kept in mind.