[A Case of Secondary Rectal Cancer after Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Secondary malignancies following prostate radiotherapy are rare but documented.
• Brachytherapy for prostate cancer involves internal radiation delivery.
• Long latency periods are typical for radiation-induced cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of secondary rectal cancer following prostate brachytherapy.
• To emphasize the significance of long-term follow-up after pelvic radiotherapy.
• To discuss the criteria and incidence of radiation-induced secondary pelvic malignancies.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 72-year-old male patient.
• Review of patient history including prior treatments for gastric and prostate cancer.
• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by robot-assisted total pelvic exenteration.
• Histopathological examination of the resected tumor.
• Literature review on secondary pelvic malignancies post-radiotherapy.

Main Results:

• The patient developed advanced rectal adenocarcinoma invading the bladder 17 years after prostate brachytherapy.
• The secondary malignancy met established criteria for radiation-induced cancer.
• Literature suggests a higher incidence of secondary pelvic malignancies after brachytherapy compared to radical prostatectomy, particularly 15-20 years post-treatment.

Conclusions:

• Secondary rectal cancer can develop decades after prostate brachytherapy.
• Long-term surveillance is crucial for patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy to detect late-emerging secondary cancers.
• Early detection of secondary malignancies improves treatment outcomes.