Successful treatment of mediastinal lymphomatoid granulomatosis with rituximab monotherapy.

Abstract

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis is a rare Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive-B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Treatment options include corticosteroids, antiviral therapy, interferon-alpha and chemotherapy. However, long-term prognosis is poor and no therapeutic standard has been established yet. In a 21-year-old woman, a biopsy of mediastinal mass revealed lymphomatoid granulomatosis. Combined therapy with valganciclovir and interferon-alpha proved ineffective. In view of the CD20 expression of the tumor cells, monotherapy with rituximab was intiated. After 3 months a complete remission was achieved. Rituximab was continued for another 6 months with subsequent consolidation radiotherapy. This is the first report of an enduring complete remission (20 months) of a non-CNS lymphomatoid granulomatosis treated with rituximab.

• Authors: Karin Jordan, Axel Grothey, Wilfried Grothe, Thomas Kegel, Hans-Heinrich Wolf, Hans-Joachim Schmoll
• Journal: European journal of haematology (Eur J Haematol) Vol. 74 Issue 3 Pg. 263-6 (Mar 2005) ISSN: 0902-4441 [Print] England
• PMID: 15693798 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Rituximab

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis (drug therapy, pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Mediastinal Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
• Rituximab