Testicular function after radiotherapy to inverted 'Y' field for malignant lymphoma.
Testicular function was estimated by sperm counts, hormone assays and recording of reported conceptions in 9 patients irradiated for malignant lymphoma. The treatment had been an inverted 'Y' field including the inguinal regions with, in addition, a mantle field in 8 patients. Azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia was found in all but 1 patient, and the FSH levels were uniformly elevated. Testosterone and LH were within normal limits except in 2 patients with slightly subnormal testosterone levels. 7 of the patients were married to women of fertile age, and in 3 cases the wife became pregnant and give birth to a healthy child. The time lapses from irradiation to conception were 18, 40 and 57 months. 2 of these patients had severe oligozoospermia on examination 2 and 4 months respectively from conception. Thus fertility may possibly be underestimated by sperm counting and hormone assays after this type of radiotherapy.
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000528:radiation effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone