Cancer of the oropharynx developed after radiotherapy and chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease--a case report.

A case of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer occurring in the radiation field for Hodgkin's disease is reported. The second cancer was diagnosed six years and one month after the patient received 40 Gy/25 fractions. The patient also received salvage chemotherapy two years and six months after the primary radiotherapy. In a review of the world literature, we found 22 cases of head and neck cancer excluding the thyroid gland occurring after radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Although second cancers in the head and neck area after Hodgkin's disease have rarely been reported, those patients cured of the disease should be followed up carefully for a long period of time.