Safety of radiotherapy in patients with Behcet’s disease: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Exaggerated acute and late toxicities following radiotherapy have been reported in patients with pre-existing connective tissue diseases, such as systemic lupus and scleroderma. Behcet’s disease (BD) is a relapsing multisystem connective tissue disease characterized by vasculitis in the mucocutaneous, ocular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, neurologic, urogenital, articular, and cardiovascular systems. Data concerning the relationship between radiotherapy toxicity and BD are limited in the literature. Here, we report a case of lung cancer treated with radiotherapy (60 Gy) in a patient with BD. No severe radiation-induced toxicity was observed. Radiation-induced toxicity in patients with BD has also been discussed.