Pelvic Radiation-Induced Sarcoma With Rhabdomyoblastic Differentiation Following Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cureus. 2021 Jun 3;13(6):e15428. doi: 10.7759/cureus.15428. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Radiation-induced sarcomas (RIS) are a rare long-term complication of radiation therapy, with a reported incidence of 2.5-5.5%. They usually develop several years following exposure to radiotherapy. The most common reported subtypes are undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, angiosarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma. Breast cancer is the most common primary malignancy preceding RIS, followed by uterine cervical carcinoma. Only a few cases of RIS with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation have been reported in the literature, usually following the treatment of retinoblastoma. Herein, we report a rare case of RIS with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation in the pelvic region developing 12 years after cervical cancer radiation therapy.

Keywords: pelvic sarcoma; post-radiation sarcoma; radiation-induced sarcoma; rhabdomyoblastic differentiation; rhabdomyosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports