Long term survival of a patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma as a late complication of radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease treated with 90yttrium-silicate.

A case of malignant pleural mesothelioma (PM) 24 years after thoracic radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease is presented. As primary treatment and to relieve symptoms of dyspnea secondary to pleural effusion a thoracic drain was installed, followed by intracavitary radiation therapy with 90yttrium-silicate. Minor complaints of fever and a dry cough as a side-effect of this treatment were effectively treated with prednisone during 2 weeks. The patient remains in a good clinical condition now 6 years after diagnosis. Considering the few therapeutic options the use of 90yttrium-silicate intrapleural installation could be propagated as a safe and effective antitumour treatment for a selected group of patients with malignant PM.