Use of radiotherapy to treat life-threatening Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

Abstract

Kasabach-Merritt syndrome involves thrombocytopenia, which is usually severe, in association with haemangiomata. We describe two newborn infants who developed life-threatening Kasabach-Merritt syndrome but who were successfully treated. Both had failed to respond adequately to corticosteroids and alpha-interferon. They subsequently received emergency radiotherapy. Both patients had an improvement in their platelet counts. The first infant's haemangioma gradually faded during the first 3 years of life, whereas the second infant's haemangioma had resolved 2 months after radiotherapy. No significant late effects of the radiotherapy have been noted at the 8 and 5 years follow up respectively. Radiotherapy remains an important treatment method in Kasabach-Merritt syndrome when patients fail to respond to other treatments.

• Authors: E Leong, S Bydder
• Journal: Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology (J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol) Vol. 53 Issue 1 Pg. 87-91 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 1754-9485 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 19453533 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Catastrophic Illness (therapy)
• Hemangioma (congenital, diagnosis, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Syndrome
• Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune (diagnosis, radiotherapy)
• Treatment Outcome