THE ROLE OF SPLENIC RADIATION THERAPY IN SYMPTOMATIC SPLENOMEGALY RELATED TO POLYCYTHAEMIA VERA: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

摘要

The Role of Splenic Radiation Therapy in Symptomatic Splenomegaly Related to Polycythaemia Vera: A Case Report and Review of the Literature Chronic myeloproliferative diseases are clonal progenitor cell disorders related to myeloid cell proliferation. In these diseases, splenomegaly is frequently experienced and is the finding that challenges the treatment due to progression. Splenic radiation therapy is the treatment modality for palliation of symptoms. A 63 year old male patient who had been diagnosed as polycythaemia vera, has been treated with splenic radiation therapy due to progression in splenomegaly accompanied with pain and symptomatic thrombocytopenia despite myelosupressive treatment. With 2 fractions per week, with shrinking fields and increasing dose in each week, pain and abdominal fullness related to splenomegaly and splenic infarcts have been palliated. Splenic radiation therapy has been suggested to be kept in mind as an alternative to cytotoxic chemotherapy and surgery in chronic myeloproliferative diseases with massive splenomegaly.