[Metachronous cancers after treatment for undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To collect second cancers occurring in the head and neck area after treatment by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisia.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study of patients developing second cancers after treatment for nasopharyngeal UCNT by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. To be retained in this study, second tumour had to be histologically different from the initial UCNT, localised in the irradiated area and occurring after a minimal delay of 3 years.


RESULTS
We collect 11 cases of second cancers occurring among 2346 patients treated from 1984 to 2001 in Tunisia (0.46%). Patients have been treated for nasopharyngeal UCNT mainly advanced T3-T4 (72%) or N2-N3 (63%). Median age was 20 years (11 to 48) with a sex-ratio of 0.3 (3 M/8 F). Treatment protocol included primary chemotherapy in 4 cases (adriamycin-cisplatin) or adjuvant (in 4) associated to the loco-regional irradiation at a mean dose of 72 Gy (70 to 75). Median delay of second cancer occurrence was 9 years (3 to 17). Tumors were epidermoid carcinomas in 4 cases, fibrosarcomas (2), osteosarcomas (2), glioblastoma (1) and basocellular carcinomas in 2. Second tumors have been treated by surgery alone in 4 cases and chemotherapy alone in 7 patients. No patient have been reirradiated. Median survival was 17 months, 4 patients died and 7 are still alive including 4 in complete remission (24+, 36, 36 and 48+ months) and 3 with progressing disease (8, 16 and 18 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Even very rare, second cancers after treatment for UCNT need to be detected and have a poor prognosis.
Boussen
H
H
Institut Salah Azaïz de Tunis, Boulevard du 9 avril, Bab Saadoun, Tunis, Tunisie. hamouda.boussen@rns.tn
Kochbati
L
L
Oueslati
Z
Z
Gritli
S
S
Daoud
J
J
Gammoudi
A
A
Besbes
M
M
Bouaouina
N
N
Benna
F
F
Ladgham
A
A
Maalej
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies