Resolution of respiratory failure with radiotherapy in myelofibrosis.

摘要

Splenomegaly can be an independent cause of morbidity in patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF). Massive splenomegaly can lead to early satiety, bloating, splenic pain, portal hypertension and cytopenias [1]. Radiotherapy (RT) had been used either for symptomatic relief and extramedullary hematopoiesis in patients with IMF [1, 2]. While RT is generally effective in these indications, the effects may be transient and patients may experience significant myelosuppression which potentially causes significant morbidity [1, 2]. Respiratory failure in patients with IMF may be due to interstitial or pleural extramedullary hematopoiesis or severe infections. To our knowledge, there is no report of splenomegaly-induced hypoxemic hypercapnic respiratory failure resolving with splenic RT.