[Postradiation pericarditis in lymphogranulomatosis patients]

Postradiation pericarditis was diagnosed in 11 of 52 patients treated for lymphogranulomatosis with radiation applied to enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. The risk of postradiation pericarditis is greater in cases of high radiation doses (more than 45 Gy) and in patients with postradiation pneumonitis. Postradiation pericarditis can develop both during the exposure and long after radiation therapy; therefore long-term follow-up is required for these patients.