title: Late tissue reactions after single-fraction sequential half-body irradiation (HBI) in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
abstract: Lung and hepatic toxicities constituted the main radiation-related damage after half-body irradiation (HBI) used as the treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). Liver damage was mostly transient after a single dose of 8 Gy and could be well monitored by serum enzyme levels. A dose-response relationship could be shown for lung damage in the single dose range of 6.25-9.25 Gy, but the relationship did not reach statistical significance. A significant dose-rate effect could be shown. Mediastinal involvement by lymphoma seemed to increase the risk of pneumonitis. In a radical setting half-body irradiation is recommended to be used at a low dose-rate or as a multifraction irradiation in order to reduce the risk of liver and lung toxicities.
authors: Radiotherapy Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: H K
authors: HK
authors: Awwad
authors: S
authors: S
authors: el Badawy
authors: K
authors: K
authors: el Ghamrawy
authors: M
authors: M
authors: el Mongy
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Rizk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000528:radiation effects; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*