Malignant astrocytoma following radiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: case report and review of the literature.

A 32-year-old woman developed malignant astrocytoma 3 years after radiotherapy for nasopharnygeal carcinoma (NPC). Introduction of brain malignancy induction after external beam radiation for craniopharyngioma, pituitary adenoma, or meningioma has been previously reported. The theoretical risk of tumor induction in neural tissues, following radiotherapy by low-dose radiation has been verified, but the association of radiation-induced brain malignancy and NPC is extremely rare. We supposed that radiation exposure might play a promoter role in this immune-compromised patient who was previously at high risk of developing co-morbidity. We believe that the incidence of radiation-induced malignancies will increase in the future, and this warrants closer observation by physicians.