Low-dose, single-fraction, whole-lung radiotherapy for pulmonary hypertension associated with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can complicate myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), may arise in the absence of evidence for thromboembolic disease and carries a grim prognosis. Four patients with MMM and severe symptomatic PH were treated with whole-lung external beam radiotherapy in a single fraction of 100 cGy. Within 72 h, each patient noted marked symptomatic improvement and had relief of hypoxia and reduction of oedema and/or ascites. Three of the four patients enjoyed an objective improvement in pulmonary artery systolic pressure as measured by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Low-dose lung radiotherapy may be a useful palliative tool for patients with MMM complicated by PH.
Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. steensma.david@mayo.edu
David P
DP
Steensma
C Christopher
CC
Hook
Scott L
SL
Stafford
Ayalew
A
Tefferi
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid