Complications of total nodal irradiation of Hodgkin's disease stages III and IV.
One hundred twenty-seven patients with Hodgkin's disease, Stages III-IV, received total nodal irradiation. Of these, 101 patients were managed primarily by radiation therapy employing the split course sequential segmental radiation technique called the "3 & 2". A dose of 3800-4000 rad is delivered in 2 phases in an overall period of 12 to 13 weeks (TDF 61-64; 1094-1148 rets). For various reasons, the remaining 26 patients received their mantle irradiation to full doses 3800-4000 rad in 4 weeks (TDF 63-66; 1112-1184 rets) without rest periods and a few were irradiated after failing chemotherapy. Of the 101 patients treated between 1969-1974 using the "3 & 2" technique, 2 developed pericarditis (2.0%), none manifested symptomatic pneumonitis (0%), and 3 hypothyroidism )3.0%). The low incidence of severe complications is primarily the result of the technique employed to give total nodal irradiation. The overall incidence of Herpes Zoster was 42% (53/127), and there was a slightly higher incidence when TNI was given following splenectomy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000209:etiology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000209:etiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents