An audit of the indications for and techniques of palliative splenic radiotherapy in the UK

Abstract

Aims: This paper describes a national audit of the indications for, and techniques and toxicity of, palliative splenic radiotherapy in haematological disorders.

Materials and methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to consultant clinical oncologists treating haematological malignancies in the UK.

Results: The response rate was 76%. The audit shows chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukaemia to be the most common underlying conditions in which splenic irradiation is used. Painful splenomegaly and hypersplenism were the most common indications. Dose fractionation schedules vary widely across the UK, and also the level of full blood counts used to interrupt radiotherapy.

Conclusions: Palliative splenic radiotherapy continues to be widely used in the UK in small numbers of patients and seems to be well tolerated. Re-irradiation for further symptomatic progression is also commonly carried out.