3 CASES OF SARCOMA OCCURRING AFTER RADIATION-THERAPY OF BREAST CANCERS

We report 3 cases of sarcomas following irradiation for breast carcino ma. Median latent period ranged from 7 to 17 years. Histologic types w ere 1 malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 1 osteochondrosarcoma, 1 chondro sarcoma. Diagnosis was often delayed because of non-specific clinical features. The prognosis of these postirradiation sarcomas was poor wit h the median survival ranging from 10 to 70 months. One patient had a complete resection and is alive at 70 months. In the other 2 non-resec table patients, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy did not induce an obj ective response. The poor prognosis when these tumors are diagnosed la te emphasizes the need for increased awareness, which should lead to e arlier diagnosis and, it is hoped, permit radical surgical treatment.