title: Low-dose splenic irradiation in symptomatic congestive splenomegaly: report of five cases with literature data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To show effectiveness of low-dose splenic irradiation in symptomatic congestive splenomegaly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients were referred to our department for symptomatic congestive splenomegaly within three years. Primary diseases were autoimmune hepatitis with liver cirrhosis (n=2), cystic fibrosis (n=1), granulomatous liver disease (n=1) and Werlhof disease with liver cirrhosis (n=1). Mean age was 54 years (range: 36-67). Patients received splenic irradiation with a total dose of 3 Gy (single dose: 0.5 Gy). One patient was re-irradiated after long-term failure with the same treatment schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In four patients long term relief of splenic pain could be observed during the follow-up time of median 20 (range: 2-36) months. Four patients showed haematological response after irradiation with an increase of erythrocytes, leucocytes and/or platelets. A slightly decrease in spleen size was found in two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose splenic irradiation in symptomatic congestive splenomegaly is feasible and perhaps as effective as in lympho-and myeloproliferative malignancies regarding pain relief and haematological response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Bruns.Frank@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bruns
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dettmer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000094724:Idiopathic Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension