Patient Tolerance to Extended Irradiation in Hodgkin's Disease

Abstract

The radiotherapy of patients with Hodgkin's disease clinically limited to lymph nodes and the spleen is reviewed. Each patient was extensively evaluated and classified according to anatomic extent of disease before treatment. Extended irradiation of all major lymph node regions above and below the diaphragm was used on patients with localized as well as widespread lymph node involvement. Recovery of bone marrow function has been observed after irradiation, permitting the effective use of chemotherapy in the majority of patients who have relapsed with radiotherapeutically uncontrolled disease. Definite morbidity has resulted from this type of radical radiotherapy, although the incidence of serious complications has not been prohibitive. Extended irradiation appears to be a practical form of therapy, and the preliminary results are encouraging for selected patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease.