Radiation-induced olfactory neuroblastoma: a new etiology is possible.

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon neoplasm that is generally associated with a poor prognosis. We describe a new case of olfactory neuroblastoma in a patient previously treated for astrocytoma with holocranial radiotherapy 9 years ago.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of four patients with radiation-induced olfactory neuroblastoma between 2001 and 2009.

RESULTS

This work supports the idea that ONB can be induced by radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

As radiotherapy is a standard treatment in other tumors, clinicians must be aware of the possibility of a second tumor induced by radiation.