Neoadjuvant radiotherapy of primary irresectable unicentric Castleman's disease: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Castleman disease (CD) is a rare benign disorder characterised by hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue that may develop at a single site or throughout the body. The etiology of this disorder is unclear, although the histopathological presentation can be differentiated into a hyaline vascular variant, a plasma cell variant and a mixed variant. Clinically, it has been recorded that 3 manifestations of CD are characterized: a localized unicentric type, a generalized multicentric type and a mixed form. Surgery remains the main treatment for resectable unicentric CD, since removal of the large node is possible without further complications. No consensus has been reached concerning the most adequate treatment for irresectable unicentric CD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Case report of a 67 year old woman.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This report, describes the case of a 67-year-old woman with unicentric Castleman disease located in the right lower abdomen. The patient had symptoms of fatigue, dyspnoea and pain in the right lower abdomen. Computed tomography (CT)- examination revealed a tumour, which had grown to form a close relationship with the common iliac vessels and the sacral bone. A Laparotomy procedure revealed that the tumour was an irresectable mass. Neo-adjuvant radiotherapy (40 Gy) was administered in order to downsize the tumour. Six weeks later a new CT-scan revealed a major reduction of the tumour, which enabled a successful radical resection of the tumour to be performed. Histopathological analysis of the tumour showed the hyaline vascular type of CD.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Neo-adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered in case of an irresectable unicentric CD.</p

Quality control of involved-field radiotherapy in patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma (EORTC 20884)

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of the quality of involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) on clinical outcome in patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) in complete remission (CR) after six to eight cycles of mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone-doxorubicin, bleomycin, and vinblastine (MOPP-ABV) chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of clinical and radiologic data, radiation charts, simulator films, and megavoltage (MV) photographs was performed. IFRT consisted of 24 Gy to all initially involved nodal areas and 16-24 Gy to all initially involved extranodal sites. Major violations were defined as no or only partial irradiation of an originally involved area, or a total dose <90% of the prescribed dose. RESULTS: Of the 739 patients who were enrolled in the trial between 1989 and 2000, 57% achieved a CR; 152 of 172 patients randomized to IFRT actually received radiotherapy; and in 135 patients, quality control was performed. The overall major violation rate was 47%, predominantly concerning target volumes. The total dose was correct in 81% of the patients. After a median follow-up of 6.5 years, there was no difference in cumulative failure rate between patients with or without major violations. There was no relationship between incidence or site of relapse and major protocol violations. CONCLUSION: In advanced-stage HL patients in complete remission after six to eight cycles of MOPP-ABV, the outcome was not influenced by violation of the radiotherapy protocol