Esophageal cancer as second primary tumor after breast cancer radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
An increased risk of esophageal cancer has been reported in survivors of breast cancer treated with radiotherapy. This study further characterizes this association.


METHODS
Through hospital databases, 118 patients (109 men, 9 women) treated for esophageal cancer between 1985 and 1993 were identified, of whom 37 had 60 synchronous or metachronous cancers. 5 women had primary esophageal cancer after having breast cancer, and are the subjects of this case-control study.


RESULTS
All 5 women had been treated with radical mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy; none received chemotherapy. Their ages at the time of breast cancer ranged from 36 to 82 years; at esophageal cancer, 61 to 95 years. Time between radiotherapy and esophageal cancer varied from 13 to 31 years. All esophageal cancers were squamous cell carcinomas. Mean survival after esophageal cancer was 14.2 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Radio-induced esophageal cancer can occur as a second primary cancer in women who survive at least 1 decade after mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy.
Scholl
B
B
Service de Chirurgie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Reis
E D
ED
Zouhair
A
A
Chereshnev
I
I
Givel
J C
JC
Gillet
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology*