title: [Double half-body radiotherapy in myeloma].
abstract: Seven patients with advanced multiple myeloma, failing to respond (1 case) or relapsing (6 cases) after conventional chemotherapy with melphalan, cyclophosphamide and prednisone, were treated with double half-body irradiation. Two patients died before the irradiation could be completed. The five patients who received the total dose of irradiation obtained a reduction in their tumour mass of between 40 and 80%. There was an incomplete and inconstant effect on pain and functional status. The haematological toxicity was marked and one patient died after 7 months from marrow failure. One of the four remaining patients relapsed after 3 months and the other three are still in remission after 6, 8 and 10 months. In the present state of knowledge, double half-body irradiation should be considered to be a form of salvage treatment for myelomas not responding to chemotherapy.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
vernacular_title: L'irradiation hémicorporelle double dans le myélome.