[Changes in the lungs in patients with lymphogranulomatosis, Stages I-II, following combination therapy]

Early and late pulmonary changes in 140 patients with Hodgkin's disease, Stages I-II, following combined treatment (polychemo- and radiotherapy) are analysed. Radiation pulmonitis and local paramediastinal fibrosis occur less frequently and they are less noticeable in combined therapy as compared to similar changes developing after radiation therapy only. It can be due to the fact that a course of polychemotherapy at its first stage results in a considerable decrease of the mediastinal lymph nodes (up to their complete regression) thus making it possible to shape irradiation fields of smaller sizes and to decrease the volume of pulmonary tissue to be irradiated.