Whole abdominal irradiation in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. I. Tolerance and outcome.

Thirty patients, over a 16-year period, treated with whole abdominal irradiation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were reviewed. Therapy tolerance, acute toxicity, and long-term outcome were determined. When adequate protection of vital intraabdominal organs was instituted properly, patient tolerance required only conservative medical management. Peripheral hematologic values exhibited mild depressions to nadir values near completion (3,500-4,000 rad) of treatment. Blood count recovery and general functional normalization occurred within the first post-treatment month. Average total weight loss was only 3.5 pounds with a similar pattern of recovery following therapy completion. Sixteen patients with average follow-up of 6 years still survive. Comparative studies involving total abdominal irradiation for human malignancies are also discussed.