Anterior skull base surgery for secondary malignancies in retinoblastoma survivors: Report of two cases

Abstract

With the improved survival rate of patients with retinoblastoma, the incidence of second malignancies has become substantial. We had two retinoblastoma survivors with secondary malignancies in the naso-ethmoidal complex, one a 21-year-old man with anaplastic carcinoma and the other a 16-year-old girl with malignant fibrous histiocytoma. They underwent repeated craniofacial surgery. Secondary malignancies arising at the nose and ethmoidal cells often invade the anterior skull base. The introduction of skull base surgery has provided wider surgical margins and increased the resultant likelihood of cure. Both patients have so far shown no evidence of recurrence. Copyright © 1997 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 381 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016. All rights reserved.