Esophageal peripheral T-cell lymphoma treated with radiotherapy: A case report

RATIONALE: The clinical prognosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) patients is poor. Therefore, effective treatment is still a challenge at present. Moreover, little is known about the value of radiotherapy in the treatment of PTCL-NOS. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 55-year-old male patient with eating difficulties and progressive exacerbation for 3 months was diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Airway compression occurred after 2 cycles of first line treatment with cyclophosphamide–Adriamycin–vincristine–prednisone regimen, radiotherapy (48Gy/24f) was given as the second line therapy. DIAGNOSIS: After radiotherapy, the patient complained that mild intermittent dysphagia still existed. Endoscopic biopsy of the upper digestive tract confirmed necrotic material and superficial squamous epithelial mucosa, suggesting esophageal stricture after radiotherapy, which was indistinguishable from tumor residue. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received anti-inflammatory treatment outside the hospital and did not receive any other special treatment. OUTCOMES: The symptoms of dysphagia disappeared and the focus showed complete response (CR). As of October 1, 2020, the patient has been diagnosed with PTCL-NOS for more than 57 months and the overall survival (OS) have not been achieved. LESSONS: Radiotherapy has obvious and rapid anti-tumor effect on cyclophosphamide–Adriamycin–vincristine–prednisone refractory PTCL-NOS. At the same time, hollow organs after radiotherapy can lead to lumen stenosis and the symptoms of suspected recurrence which is difficult to distinguish only from the imaging findings.