Role of Radiotherapy in the Management of Elderly Patients With Lymphoma

Lymphoma in elderly patients has unique treatment challenges due to baseline co-morbidities, nutrition status, impairment in functional capacities and fitness. While geriatric-specific assessment can be used to tailor treatment decisions, lack of adequate representation of elderly patients in lymphoma clinical trials impairs generalizability. Radiation treatment has traditionally been associated with high response and local control for lymphomas. The volume and dose of radiation in lymphomas has gradually decreased over the decades, which has led to improved compliance and lower toxicities. The use of radiation in Hodgkin and aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas has allowed for reduction in the number systemic therapy cycles, which is important in elderly patients who may be at high risk for treatment-related adverse events. Current strategies include a risk-adapted approach with minimal chemo-immunotherapy followed by radiation treatment, with dose adapted by response. Here, we provide a review of the literature regarding the role of radiation in the management of elderly patients with lymphoma, especially in follicular lymphoma, diffuse large cell lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma.