Second primary tumours in hereditary- and nonhereditary retinoblastoma patients treated with megavoltage external beam irradiation

• Published in: Documenta ophthalmologica 1997-01, Vol.93 (4), p.337-344
• Main Authors: IMHOF, S. M, MOLL, A. C, HOFMAN, P, MOURITS, M. P, SCHIPPER, J, TAN, K. E. W. P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Diseases of the eye; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Neoplasms, Second Primary - etiology; Neoplasms, Second Primary - pathology; Radiotherapy Dosage; Radiotherapy, High-Energy; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Retinal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Retinal Neoplasms - genetics; Retinal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Retinoblastoma - diagnosis; Retinoblastoma - genetics; Retinoblastoma - radiotherapy; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0012-4486; 1573-2622
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02569071

The purpose of this retrospective study is to investigate the influence of 45 Gy megavoltage external beam radiotherapy on the occurrence of second primary tumours in hereditary- and non-hereditary retinoblastoma patients. Eighty-seven hereditary and 19 non-hereditary patients were irradiated for retinoblastoma. The follow-up of the hereditary patients ranged from 4-23 years (mean 12.4 years), of the non-hereditary patients from 6-23 years (mean 12 years). In the hereditary group 4 patients developed a second primary tumour (2 rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 osteosarcoma, 1 malignant histiocytoma), and 5 patients developed a pineoblastoma. Three second primary tumours were situated inside the radiation field. The latency period ranged from 1.5 to 18 years (mean 4.8 years). None of the non-hereditary patients developed a second primary tumour. The actuarially calculated probability of being free from second primary tumours was 96.9% at 10 years and 89.4% at 20 years (pineoblastoma excluded). The survival was 91.2% at 10 years and 84.2% at 20 years (pineoblastoma excluded). From this study it is suggested that external beam irradiation has a potentiating effect in patients, with the genetic predispopsition for retinoblastoma and who are more susceptible to second primary malignancies.