Long term survival of a patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma as a late complication of radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease treated with (90)yttrium-silicate

A case of malignant pleural mesothelioma (PM) 24 years after thoracic radio therapy for Hodgkin's disease is presented. As primary treatment and to rel ieve symptoms of dyspnea secondary to pleural effusion a thoracic drain was installed, followed by intracavitary radiation therapy with (90)yttrium-si licate. Minor complaints of fever and a dry cough as a side-effect of this treatment were effectively treated with prednisone during 2 weeks. The: pat ient remains in a good clinical condition now 6 years after diagnosis. Cons idering the few therapeutic options the use of (90)yttrium-silicate intrapl eural installation could he propagated as a safe and effective antitumour t reatment for a selected group of patients with malignant PM. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.