OBJECTIVEPost irradiation osteosarcoma (PIOS) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare and a potential late complication of radiation. We investigate its clinicopathological features and prognosis.

METHODS426 cases of bone sarcomas in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, China between 1964 and 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Fifteen patients were determined to have PIOS after radiation of NPC. Its prevalence rate, onset time, site, image features, and treatment were described. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine the relative prognostic factors.

RESULTSIn 12 patients undertaken radical surgery, one patient had residual tumor and six patients presented tumor recurrence five to 19 months (mean of nine months) after surgery. All patients survived seven to 41 months with a mean of 18 months. The one-year and two-year survival rates were 60% and 24% respectively. Female patients with large area of tumor bone formation in images had better survival than male patients without or few tumor bone formation. Age, radiation dosage, onset time of PIOS, tumor size, and treatment were probably not significant factors to prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSPIOS in patients with NPC is a high malignant disease and often has poor prognosis. Surgery with pre-and post-operative chemotherapy might be a way to improve its survival.