RADIOTHERAPY FOR KIMURAS-DISEASE - THE OPTIMUM DOSAGE

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the optimum dosage of irradiation for Kimura's disease. Methods and Materials: Twenty patients with Kim ura's disease were treated with radiotherapy. The sex ratio was 19 mal es to 1 female. The mean ages at onset, initial treatment, and radioth erapy were 26.2, 29.5, and 32.2 years, respectively. Radiotherapy was mainly applied for residual or recurrent tumors. The eosinophil count increased by more than 10 % in 18 of the 20 patients. In most instance s, irradiation was given through a single field with dosages ranging f rom 20 to 44 Gy. Results: At the completion of radiotherapy, a marked response in tumor size was noted in all cases. The minimum follow-up w as 48 months. Local control was obtained in 23 of 31 lesions (74.1 %). At dosages of less than or equal to 25 Gy, 26 - 30 Gy, and > 30 Gy, l ocal central was obtained in 2 of 8 (25.0 %), 9 of 10 (90.0 %), and 12 of 13 sites (92.3 %), respectively. Conclusions: Radiotherapy is an e ffective treatment for Kimura's disease. This strongly suggests that n o surgical procedure other than a biopsy should be carried out. The ra diation field should be Limited to the lesion and swelling of the adja cent lymph nodes as much as possible, with a optimum dosage of 26 - 30 Gy regardless of tumor size. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.