Resolution of radiation necrosis with bevacizumab following radiation therapy for primary CNS lymphoma.

Journal Article

IMPORTANCE: Radiation necrosis (RN) is a rare but serious adverse effect following treatment with radiation therapy. No standard of care exists for the management of RN, and efforts to prevent and treat RN are limited by a lack of insight into the pathomechanics and molecular drivers of RN. This case series describes the outcomes of treatment with bevacizumab (BV) in two primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) patients who developed symptomatic biopsy-proven RN after whole brain radiation (WBRT) with a stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) boost. OBSERVATIONS: Patient 1 is a 52 year-old female with PCNSL treated with WBRT followed by an SRS boost. She developed symptomatic biopsy-proven RN, and initial treatment with tocopherol and pentoxifylline was unsuccessful. A 100% clinical and radiographic response was achieved with 4 cycles of BV. Patient 2, a 48 year-old male with PCNSL, presented with seizures and biopsy-proven RN after radiation therapy. Initial empiric treatment with tocopherol and pentoxifylline was unsuccessful. A 100% clinical and radiographic response was achieved with 3 cycles of BV. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Monitoring for RN in patients with PCNSL treated with radiation therapy is warranted. BV is an efficacious treatment and a viable alternative to corticosteroids or surgical intervention.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Vaios, EJ; Batich, KA; Buckley, AF; Dunn-Pirio, A; Patel, MP; Kirkpatrick, JP; Goudar, R; Peters, KB

Published Date

  • 2022

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 13 /

Start / End Page

  • 576 - 582

PubMed ID

  • 35359747

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC8963718

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1949-2553

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.18632/oncotarget.28222

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States