[Whole body irradiation in conditioning for bone marrow transplantation. Experiences with 35 cases of leukemia]

Total body irradiation, carried out in two different regimens (10 Gy single dose; 200 cGy X 5 fractions) has been used in 35 patients with acute leukaemia or chronic leukaemia in chronic or accelerated phase, in preparation for bone marrow transplantation. The dose rate was in the range of 2-4 cGy . min-1. No lung shielding was adopted. The role of total body irradiation in the development of interstitial pneumonitis is considered. Rather than to the regimen of total body irradiation--single dose or five fractions--the incidence of interstitial pneumonitis seems to be related to other factors; mainly to the presence of Graft-versus-Host-Disease: Five patients out of six with III or IV grade GvHD, developed interstitial pneumonitis; only one patient out of twenty without GvHD or with a low grade GvHD developed interstitial pneumonitis.