[Post-radiation mucocele in two patients treated for nasopharyngeal cancer]. / Mucocèle après radiothérapie chez deux patients traités pour cancer du nasopharynx.

A 30-year-old woman, with a history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which was treated by radiotherapy nine years previously, presented with occasional diplopia and recent headaches. A nasopharyngeal biopsy showed no recurrence. The imaging revealed a sphenoidal sinus mucocele. Endoscopic marsupialization of the mucocele allowed clinical improvement. A 56-year-old woman presented, five years after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with a fronto-orbital mass. CT-scan revealed a fronto-ethmoidal mucocele. Nasopharyngeal biopsy showed tumour recurrence. Marsupialization of mucocele was performed. Recurrence of the carcinoma was treated by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Sphenoidal sinus mucocele developing after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma has rarely been reported. CT scan and MRI are useful tools in making the diagnosis. Biopsy is required to diagnose recurrence or associated radio-induced tumor. Endoscopic approach gives good results.

Reuse of tumorous calvarial bone after gamma irradiation.

Reconstruction of calvarium after tumor resection may present several technical difficulties. The authors reused the resected calvarial bone in four patients after submitting the bone to a lethal dose of gamma radiation. The authors conclude that resected, irradiated, tumorous bone can be reused for the reconstruction of its own defect. This provides a simple method of reconstruction. Partial bone resorption should be anticipated but further reconstruction, if needed, will be facilitated.