Systemic Abscopal Effect of Low-dose Radiotherapy (2 Gy ×2) against Palatine Tonsil Follicular Lymphoma

Abstract

A 52-year-old man presented with palatine tonsillar swelling caused by follicular lymphoma. His tumor burden was low, but exacerbation of snoring and dysphagia was observed. Considering the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, he received palliative 4-Gy irradiation to the tonsils in 2 fractions, which induced partial regression of tonsillar swellings and eradication of the circulating lymphoma cells. We suggest that low-dose radiotherapy triggered an abscopal effect of lymphoma, which allowed the patient time to receive COVID-19 vaccination before starting immunosuppressive chemo-immunotherapy.