[Veno-occlusive liver disease after total infradiaphragmatic lymphoid irradiation. A rare complication]

Radiotherapy is potentially curative in early stages of follicle center lymphoma. Frequent side effects are pancytopenia, nausea and abdominal discomfort. A radiation-induced liver injury with serious clinical symptoms and changes in liver function is a rare complication.

Whole abdomen was irradiated in a 49-year-old patient with a centrocytic-centroblastic lymphoma, stage IA (localization: left inguinal region). A total dose of 30 Gy was delivered in a weekly fractionation of five times 1.5 Gy. Kidneys were protected by shielding after a dose of 13.5 Gy, liver blocks were positioned after 25 Gy. During the last 2 days of therapy the patient presented with weight gain, ascites, dyspnoea and elevated liver enzymes. Diagnostics revealed hepatosplenomegaly, ascites and an increased portosystemic pressure gradient. Liver biopsy specimen showed a veno-occlusive disease. Complete relief of symptomatology was achieved within 7 days following placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS), heparinization and diuretics. Liver enzymes are in the normal range.

Veno-occlusive disease of the liver (VOD) is a very rare side effect of primary abdominal irradiation of follicle center lymphoma. This complication should be taken into consideration if a patient presents with upper right quadrant pain, ascites and elevation of liver enzymes especially within 4 months following radiotherapy. Genesis of veno-occlusive disease, diagnostics, therapy and a review of the literature are presented.