Treating radiation-induced sarcoma of the head and neck: A case report

Sarcoma caused by radiation therapy is called radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS). This rare pathology is being encountered with increasing frequency due to the longer survival time of patients after radiation therapy. We report a case of RIS in the anterior neck of an 82-year-old man who had achieved complete response from radiation therapy for subglottic cancer 11 years earlier. He presented to our facility with an enlarged anterior cervical tumor. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) indicated a massive tumor (27×34 × 45 mm) extending from the thyroid cartilage into the hyoid bone. Additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a signal-hyperintense mass on T1-weighted imaging and signal heterogeneity on T2-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced MRI showed some enhancing effects in the tumor. Considering his history of radiation therapy and these imaging characteristics, RIS was suspected and complete resection of the tumor was performed. Dedifferentiated liposarcoma was diagnosed on histopathological examination. He has been followed-up for 6 months with no apparent recurrence.