Development of cavernous haemangioma following radical chemo-radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

We report an adult case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radical chemo-radiotherapy, with subsequent development of a histologically proved temporal cavernous haemangioma within the radiation field.

METHOD

Case report and review of the current literature concerning radiation-induced, secondary, space-occupying lesions.

CONCLUSION

The increasing role of radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment, together with improved patient survival, is likely to lead to radiation-induced, secondary, space-occupying lesions being encountered more frequently. We emphasise the need to be vigilant for this important but relatively rare complication, which has significant associated morbidity.