Fibrosarcoma. A complication of interstitial radiation therapy for a benign haemangioma occurring after 18 years

A fibrosarcoma developed in the soft tissue of the lower extremity 18 years after extensive radiation treatment of a haemangioma with radium needles and radon need implants. The radiation therapy of haemangiomata, must be assessed in light of its potential for such catastrophic results. The adverse effects of therapeutic radiation have been known for some time and more recently it has been shown that the incidence of radiation-induced malignancy is growing (Arlen, 1971). Radiation is still used to treat benign conditions, especially haemangiomata of the skin and soft tissues despite an international awareness of the sequela (Maddin, 1970; Mustard, Ravitch and Snyder, 1969). We would like to report the following case; the first, we believe, to develop from an implant.