A case of carcinoma of the rectum after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix.

Carcinomas are known to develop after radiation therapy for benign or malignant lesions. However, the development of primary carcinoma of the rectum following radiotherapy is relatively rare. This paper presents a case of adenocarcinoma of the rectum in which the history strongly suggested a radiation-induced carcinoma 12 years after initial radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. Furthermore, it was interesting that metastatic adenocarcinoma of the skin was localized only over the pelvic and perineal area that had mild brown pigmentation from the previous irradiation. The relation between the effect of irradiation and a second primary cancer in the irradiated skin is discussed.