Whole-bladder irradiation and doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy as successful treatment for a primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the bladder
Kawakami, K.; Oka, K.; Kato, M.; Shiku, H.
International Journal of Hematology 72(3): 346-348
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0925-5710 PMID: 11185992 Document Number: 523731
Primary bladder lymphoma, a rare disease, is usually of the low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type. The best treatment approach for this disease remains unknown. We encountered a case of localized MALT lymphoma with a partial high-grade component in a 27-year-old Japanese man. Taking therapeutic efficacy and the quality of life of the patient into consideration, we treated him with a combination of doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy and 30-Gy whole-bladder irradiation. The patient had a complete remission and has been disease-free without serious adverse effects or sequelae for a year and a half since completion of the treatment. These observations suggest that a combination of systemic chemotherapy and relatively low-dose irradiation without a total cystectomy is effective for a MALT lymphoma of the bladder, even with a high-grade component.