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A case of an extra-abdominal desmoid tumor in a 17-year-old female is reported. At the time of the first examination, the tumor was found to already involve the floor of the mouth, the submandibular region, both sides of the neck, the anterior chest wall and the mediastinum and hence was considered inoperable. The patient was treated by external irradiation and interstitial irradiation (Ir and Au). The therapeutic response was very slow, becoming noticeable 4 months after completion of the therapy and lasting for more than a year. Experience in this case indicates that in order for radiotherapy to prove successful in the treatment of desmoid tumor, it must be administered in relatively high doses. Since desmoid tumors reportedly have the potential for sarcomatous transformation, a long-term follow-up seems to be necessary in the management of patients with this neoplasm. It is considered that inoperable extra-abdominal desmoid tumors are a good indication for radiation therapy.

Six patients with carcinoma of the vulva and 3 with carcinoma of the vagina following radiation therapy for cancer of the cervix were analyzed. The interval between irradiation and diagnosis of the second tumor varied from 5 to 23 years. Despite the lack of having detailed information on irradiation factors in all patients, circumstantial evidence from this study suggests that radiation therapy may have contributed to the development of carcinoma of the vulva and vagina in some of the patients. Close follow-up patients treated for squamous carcinoma of the genital tract must emphasize inspection for new lesions. The incidences previously reported in the literature are also reviewed for comparison.