Treatment of Fanconi anemia patient with synchronous esophageal and tongue cancer in COVID-19 era: a case report

Radiat Oncol J. 2024 Mar;42(1):83-87. doi: 10.3857/roj.2023.00654. Epub 2024 Jan 5.

Abstract

Although Fanconi anemia patients accompany a high risk of multiple cancers, radiation therapy on these patients has been carried out only in limited cases due to the concern for radiation toxicity that stems from their susceptibility to radiation. We report a case of a 28-year-old female patient diagnosed as synchronous esophageal and tongue cancer, and underwent two cycles of radiation therapy, inevitably in the condition of coronavirus disease 2019 infection. She received radiation therapy of 30 Gy to esophageal mass with neoadjuvant aim in her first-round radiation therapy, and later received 27 Gy to tongue cancer surgical bed with adjuvant aim in her second-round radiation therapy. With no further treatment, she has been maintaining no evidence of disease state for 7 months. Managing Fanconi anemia patients with multiple cancers using radiation therapy is feasible, in which cases a dose de-escalation may be important considering the radiation toxicity and possible future re-treatment.

Keywords: COVID-19; Esophageal neoplasms; Head and neck neoplasms; Radiation injuries; Radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports