Hematologic Recovery and Deterioration After "Successful" Radiotherapy for Hodgkin's Disease

Abstract

Long-term hematologic profiles have been compiled for 50 consecutive patients who remain continuously free of Hodgkin's disease, more than 5 years after nodal irradiation. Return of peripheral blood values to normal occurred consistently, and recovery has been sustained over the years of observation. In the entire series of 180 cases, only 7 patients have experienced a hematologic deterioration in the absence of further marrow suppressive therapy. Intervals from initial treatment to hematologic deterioration ranged from several weeks to more than 5 years. In three cases the cause could not be established before death. There was eventual histologic confirmation of recurrent Hodgkin's disease in six of the seven patients. Unexplained depression of peripheral blood counts after completion of radiotherapy should be interpreted as presumptive evidence for recurrent disease.