Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a tailgut cyst: role of radiotherapy

Abstract

Tailgut cysts (TGCs) are rare tumours which can undergo malignant transformation. The gold standard of treatment is complete surgical excision. Multidisciplinary assessment is advisable in order to apply adjuvant treatment. Postoperative radiotherapy should be given in case of compromised surgical margins or other factors such as high histological grade or perineural and lymphovascular invasion. Here, we present a case of a squamous cell carcinoma arising from a retrorectal TGC treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and review the main indications and techniques of this therapy.

Retrorectal Cysts and Tumors: From Clinical Presentations and Imaging Techniques to Pathological Diagnoses and Management: A case series and literature review

“…In the present series, squamous cell carcinoma has arisen from a retrorectal cyst. Aldave et al Ohsawa et al also discussed the arising of squamous cell carcinoma from a tailgut cyst and an epidermoid cyst, respectively (18,19). Histologically, squamous cell carcinoma is the nest of malignant squamous epithelial cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm arising from the epidermis extending into the dermis with keratin pearls.…”