Palliative Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors

An early adolescent male presented with six months of nausea, vomiting, and constipation. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed multiple pulmonary nodules of varying sizes and a 3.1 cm pleural-based mass-like density in the right lower pulmonary lobe suspicious for metastatic disease. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed diffuse metastatic disease involving the lungs, liver, and peritoneum. An ultrasound (US)-guided core needle biopsy of the liver was performed, and the morphology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with a poorly differentiated carcinoma. Further workup was performed, and the patient was diagnosed with a desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT). The patient underwent eight cycles of chemotherapy, but his tumor metastasized to distant sites. He then underwent two courses of palliative radiation therapy to the pelvis. His cancer continued to progress, and he eventually succumbed to his disease. This case report evaluates the evidence, data, radiation dosages, and techniques for palliative radiation therapy for DSRCTs.