title: Reversible, PET-positive, generalized lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly during high-dose interferon-alpha-2b adjuvant therapy for melanoma.
abstract: A patient with resected stage III nodular melanoma treated with high-dose interferon-alpha-b2 adjuvant therapy went on to develop generalized lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. The total body positron emission tomography showed a high F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake (standardized uptake values >9), indicating possible lymph node and spleen malignancies. Histologic examinations of an axillary lymph node biopsy and an osteomedullar biopsy were negative, excluding both melanoma metastases and hematopoietic tumors. The symptoms completely regressed after suspension of treatment and a follow-up positron emission tomography was negative. It remains to be seen whether this unusual event can be ascribed to an autoimmune phenomenon linked to potential treatment efficacy and survival.
authors.affiliation: Immunotherapy and Somatic Cell Therapy Unit, Cancer Institute of Romagna IRST, Meldola, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ridolfi
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cangini
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galassi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Passardi
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzullo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Framarini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tauceri
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Vanna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiarion-Sileni
authors.forename: Ruggero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ridolfi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011859:Radiography; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18