A long-term survivor of leiomyosarcoma around the right side of the base of the skull: effective radiotherapy combined with intra-arterial chemotherapy

• DOI: 10.1007/s101470200007
• Publication Date: 2019-12-12T03:42:24Z
• Authors: R. Tokiya; Y. Imajo; E. Yoden; J. Hiratsuka; M. Kobatake; M. Gyoten; S. Imai; Y. Kajihara
• Keywords: Surgical oncology

We report a rare case of a leiomyosarcoma that developed around the right side of the base of the skull in a 51-year-old woman. The patient consulted our hospital complaining of pain in the right side of her neck and upper right arm in August 1994. A leiomyosarcoma, originating around the right side of the neck and base of the skull was diagnosed. Initially, surgery was planned, but invasion into the spinal canal was discovered. Curative resection of the leiomyosarcoma around the right side of the base of the skull was not possible. Therefore, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with intra-arterial chemotherapy and hyperthermia was employed. After the treatment, the tumor decreased in size to 45% of its initial volume, and, simultaneously, her symptoms completely disappeared. The patient initially remained clinically free of the disease, but showed reaggravations at the primary tumor site 3 years and 3 months, and 4 years and 11 months, after the first treatment. The reaggravations were treated with EBRT combined with intra-arterial chemotherapy. As a result, she survived for 5 years and 7 months after the first treatment.