[Multiple primary vaginal tumors following the radiation treatment of cervical cancer].

The analysis of the data on 3225 irradiated patients with cervical cancer was performed to evaluate the probability of development of primary multiple tumors of the vagina. The actual risk of second tumor development within the mean period of survival of the treated patients (30 years) was 200 times higher than the expected risk of vaginal cancer in the general population. Local radiation injury and overdose proved the main factors of risk. Basic differences between these tumors, and primary vaginal malignancies and late metastases and relapses of cervical cancer are discussed. They were used as basis for the identification of a separate entity, namely radiation-induced cancer of the vagina. Patients irradiated for cervical cancer should be followed for their life-time.