Breast cancer in a male patient after treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia including total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation

Background: With increasing numbers of patients subjected to total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation for treatment of several systemic malignancies more and more patients with second malignancies were observed. Case Report: We report the case of a 29-year-old man who developed breast cancer 13 years after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Therapy for leukemia included total body irradiation (TBI) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Breast cancer was treated with mastectomy and irradiation of the left chest wall. 17 months later the patient developed malignant pleural effusion and died despite chemotherapy and hormonal therapy due to further tumor progression. Conclusion: The increased risk for secondary solid cancers after TBI and BMT and the greater risk among younger patients indicate the need for lifelong careful follow up.