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

E. Leong, Sean Bydder

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    14 Citations (Scopus)

    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 α-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.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)87-91
    JournalJournal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology
    Volume53
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

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