Double cancer following radiation therapy

A total of 31 patients with radiation associated cancer seen from January 1972 through April 1985, 7 after radiation therapy (RT) for primary benign diseases (Group A) and 24 after RT for primary malignant diseases (Group B), are reported, and a review of the relevant literature is presented. Latent period ranged from 26 yr to 56 yr with a mean of 38 yr in Group A, and from 4 yr to 36 yr with a mean of 17 yr in Group B. The most common underlying disease was tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis (6/7) in Group A, and it was uterine cancer (20/24), followed by breast cancer (2/24), lung cancer (1/24), and cancer of the head and neck (1/24) in Group B. These results were compared with those from the nationwide survey. (Namekawa, K.)