Papillar thyroid cancer: A rare case of a second primary tumor in retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is the most common primary cancer of the eye in children. The prognosis for survival is excellent. The current therapy includes an improved survival rate and decreased iatrogenic sequelae. The relative risk of a second tumor in survivors of retinoblastoma is documented, especially in those who carry a germline RB mutation. It is strongly increased in case of radiation therapy. The most common types of second primary tumor are sarcoma of soft tissues and osteosarcoma. We present here a rare case of a retinoblastoma patient who received radiation therapy as a part of his treatment and developed a papillar thyroid cancer as a second malignancy. Papillar thyroid cancer has a good prognosis. Systematic screening for thyroid carcinoma should be undertaken in patients irradiated for congenital retinoblastoma. (c) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.