Radiotherapy in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with pericardial invasion after transplantation: A case report

The present report describes a case of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) with pericardial invasion following bone marrow transplantation. The patient exhibited recurrent pericardial effusion accompanied by wheezing symptoms. Despite undergoing multiple pericardial punctures and drainage procedures, pericardial injections, and systemic treatment, the patient continued to experience recurrent pericardial effusion. Ultimately, the patient underwent whole-heart radiotherapy, resulting in complete resolution of the pericardial effusion. After a follow-up period of 10 months, the pericardial effusion remained well-controlled, and there were no significant impairments in cardiac function. In conclusion, radiotherapy may be considered as a viable treatment option for refractory leukemia cases presenting with pericardial effusion.

Automated summary

The report presents a case of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) with pericardial invasion after bone marrow transplantation. The patient had recurrent pericardial effusion with wheezing symptoms. Despite various treatments, including pericardial punctures, pericardial injections, and systemic therapy, the effusion persisted. Whole-heart radiotherapy was ultimately performed and resulted in complete resolution of the effusion. After 10 months of follow-up, the effusion remained well-controlled without significant cardiac function impairments. In conclusion, radiotherapy may be considered as a viable treatment option for refractory leukemia cases with pericardial effusion.