The Use of Megavoltage Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Thymomas in Rabbits: 19 Cases

    April 2012 in “ Veterinary and comparative oncology ”
    Kelvin Andres, Michael S. Kent, C. T. Siedlecki, Jörg Mayer, João Brandão, Michelle G. Hawkins, James K. Morrisey, Katherine E. Quesenberry, V. E. Valli, R. Avery Bennett
    TLDR Megavoltage radiation therapy extended survival in rabbits with thymomas, especially in those weighing more than 1.57 kg.
    This study evaluated the median survival time (MST) and prognostic factors in 19 rabbits with thymomas treated with megavoltage radiation therapy (RT). The overall MST was 313 days, which increased to 727 days when excluding 3 rabbits that died within the first 14 days of RT. A body weight lower than the mean of 1.57 kg was significantly associated with decreased survival time. Complications from radiation treatment were infrequent and included radiation-induced myocardial failure, radiation pneumonitis, and alopecia.
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