Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland in a child previously treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Occurrence of second cancers is a major concern for the care of children cured of cancer. Children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have an increased risk for developing mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) of the parotid gland. The latent period ranges from 5 to 16 years. A 3-year-old boy presented with pre-B ALL. Treatment included multidrug chemotherapy and prophylactic intrathecal injections of methotrexate and prednisolone. Low-grade MEC of the left parotid gland was diagnosed at the age of 7 years, only 1 year after completing treatment. Local lymph nodes were not metastatic, and course was favorable 8 years after complete surgical excision. This case report is remarkable for the early diagnosis of second cancer, only 4 years after diagnosis of ALL, and its occurrence in parotid gland without previous head and neck irradiation. It highlights the need for concern about second cancers of the parotid gland in children treated for ALL.
Boccon-Gibod
Liliane
L
Department of Pathology, University School of Medicine of Paris VI and Hôpital d'Enfants Armand Trousseau Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
Boman
Françoise
F
Josset
Patrice
P
Landman-Parker
Judith
J
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*