A late complication of pelvic radiotherapy: leiomyosarcoma of the rectum. Report of a case and review of the literature

Alessandro Caporale; Francesco Angelico; Michele Umile Cosenza; Andrea Giuliani; Maria Del Ben; Eugenio Benvenuto; Fabrizio Franchi

A late complication of pelvic radiotherapy: leiomyosarcoma of the rectum. Report of a case and review of the literature

Hepatogastroenterology. 2003 Nov-Dec;50(54):1933-6.

Authors

Alessandro Caporale¹, Francesco Angelico, Michele Umile Cosenza, Andrea Giuliani, Maria Del Ben, Eugenio Benvenuto, Fabrizio Franchi

Affiliation

¹ Department of Surgery Pietro Valdoni, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 14696435

Abstract

Leiomyosarcoma of the rectum is an uncommon malignancy; it accounts for less than 0.1% of all malignancies of the colon and rectum and only one case has been reported long-term following pelvic radiotherapy. We report a second case of leiomyosarcoma of the rectum after radiotherapy in an elderly women who received external radiation therapy eighteen years before, for endometrial carcinoma. We confirm that leiomyosarcoma may be a late uncommon effect of pelvic irradiation and suggest that close and long-term surveillance of irradiated patients is highly recommended.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Biopsy
Colectomy
Combined Modality Therapy
Endometrial Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
Endometrial Neoplasms / surgery
Female
Humans
Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
Leiomyosarcoma / diagnostic imaging
Leiomyosarcoma / pathology
Leiomyosarcoma / surgery*
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / diagnostic imaging
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / pathology
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / surgery*
Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnostic imaging
Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology
Neoplasms, Second Primary / surgery*
Radiotherapy Dosage
Rectal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
Rectal Neoplasms / pathology
Rectal Neoplasms / surgery*
Rectum / pathology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed