Outcomes of Kimura's disease after radiotherapy or nonradiotherapeutic treatment modalities.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of Kimura's disease and to identify the optimal treatment regimen for Kimura's disease.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1984 and 2003, 14 patients with Kimura's disease were treated with radiotherapy (RT) and 9 patients were treated with local excision or systemic steroids. The radiation doses ranged from 20 to 45 Gy. Immunohistochemical studies were performed in 13 cases.

RESULTS: At RT completion, a marked response in terms of tumor size was noted in most cases. The median follow-up was 65 months. Local control was obtained in 9 (64.3%) of the 14 in the RT group and in 2 (22.2%) of the 9 in the non-RT group. No secondary malignancies were observed in the RT group.

CONCLUSION: These results supports the finding that RT is more effective against Kimura's disease. Simple or immunohistochemical features did not influence the treatment outcome.