Abscopal effect of radiation on toruliform para-aortic lymph node metastases of advanced uterine cervical carcinoma : A case report

The case of a 69-year-old woman with advanced uterine cervical carcinoma with toruliform para-aortic lymph node metastases that showed an abscopal effect of radiation therapy (effect out of irradiated field) is reported. The patient was admitted to our University Hospital in March 2005, and treated with radiation therapy only for the primary pelvic lesions without chemotherapy because of her severe economic status. After the treatment, not only did the cervical tumor in the irradiated field disappear, but the toruliform para-aortic lymph node swelling outside the irradiated field also spontaneously disappeared. The patient is still alive and well without relapse. This case is the first clinical demonstration of an abscopal effect in advanced uterine cervical carcinoma.