Radiation Therapy for Endobronchial Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Causing Extrinsic Airway Compression—A Novel Treatment Strategy

Here, we report a case of a very rare manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)—lobar lung collapse and partial airway occlusion from direct endobronchial involvement of the disease, complicated by bacterial infections requiring antibiotics. Because this was the only symptomatic site of disease, the patient was not treated systemically, which is the typical treatment strategy for CLL, but with focal radiation therapy, resulting in good symptomatic improvement. Radiation therapy for endobronchial CLL has never been reported, to our knowledge, and given the patient's good clinical outcome, could be a feasible alternative to avoid the side effects of systemic therapy for similar cases in the future.