Work

Favorable Outcome of Nasal-Type Extranodal Natural Killer (NK)/T-Cell Lymphoma in a Very Elderly Patient Treated With Radiotherapy Alone

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: EBV)-associated malignancy, typically affecting middle-aged individuals. Cases in patients over 80 are extremely rare. We report an 88-year-old woman, the oldest known case, successfully treated with radiotherapy alone. She presented with erythema and swelling of the right cheek and nasal cavity, initially misdiagnosed as facial cellulitis. A skin biopsy revealed atypical CD3⁺/CD56⁺ lymphoid cells, and EBER positivity confirmed EBV involvement. Imaging showed localized disease without systemic spread. Due to her advanced age and comorbidities, chemotherapy was not feasible, and she received radiotherapy alone, resulting in complete remission without recurrence. This case highlights the effectiveness of radiotherapy in localized ENKTCL and suggests that even very elderly patients can achieve favorable outcomes with appropriate treatment.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.89939

Authors: Natsumi Hara, Natsuko Saito-Sasaki, Etsuko Okada, Yu Sawada

Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan

Language: English

Topic: Viral-associated cancers and disorders

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4413181998