Xanthogranuloma in the heavily irradiated low neck in a patient with head and neck cancer

Abstract

BackgroundHead and neck cancer is often managed with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, and skin toxicity is not uncommon. Xanthogranuloma is a pathological finding resulting from an inflammatory reaction that has not been previously reported following head and neck radiation therapy.Case presentationA patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, treated with definitive chemoradiation and hyperthermia, presented at eight-month follow-up with an in-field cutaneous lesion in the low neck, initially concerning for recurrent tumor.Biopsy showed xanthogranuloma and the patient underwent complete resection with congruent surgical pathology. The patient remained free of malignancy but continued to experience wound healing difficulties at the resection site which resolved with specialized wound care and hyperbaric oxygen.ConclusionsSkin toxicity is not uncommon in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy. Awareness of unusual pathologic sequelae, such as xanthogranuloma, is needed to provide patient counseling while continuing appropriate surveillance for recurrent malignancy.

Benign Histiocyte-Rich Pseudotumor Developing Postchemotherapy and Mimicking Residual Disease

“…Postchemotherapy HRPT have been described in only rare case reports in the past several years [ 15 – 17 ]. This case highlights the limitations of PET/CT scan in evaluation of residual disease and emphasizes the importance of including this entity in the differential diagnosis.…”