Assessing lymph node changes after irradiation is crucial for lymphoma treatment.
Spontaneous regression of lymph nodes can occur, complicating treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
To measure changes in lymph node surface area after lymphography in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients undergoing systemic irradiation.
To compare the effects of total body irradiation (TBI) and hemi-body irradiation (HBI) on lymph node regression.
Main Methods:
Abdominal radiographs were used to measure lymph node surface area changes post-lymphography.
18 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma received systemic irradiation (TBI or HBI).
11 normal nodes in testicular tumor patients were measured for comparison.
Main Results:
Lymph nodes showed spontaneous shrinkage up to 20% after lymphography.
Both TBI and HBI resulted in comparable rates of nodal regression.
Hemi-body irradiation (HBI) led to greater nodal regression, a lower nadir of node size, and a longer growth delay compared to total body irradiation (TBI).
Conclusions:
Lymph node size changes after irradiation require careful monitoring due to potential spontaneous regression.
Hemi-body irradiation appears more effective than total body irradiation in inducing lymph node regression and delaying regrowth in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.