[Radiotherapy of hematologic diseases]

Possibilities and limits of radiotherapy are described in a survey in the following diseases: Undifferentiated cell leucoses: The radiotherapy of the central nervous system brings an increase of the 5-year survival rates, since the localisations in this region existing in 45-70% are only insufficiently reached by the cytostatic substances because of the defective blood-liquor passage. On the other hand, other indications to radiotherapy recede into the background. Chronic leucoses: In the foreground of the application is the ray-therapy of the spleen, of which, apart from the local effect on the splenic tumour, also an improvement of the remission rates is expected. At adequate indication also the ray-therapy of infiltrates in the lymph nodes and other localisations achieves good palliative results. The extra-corporeal irradiation of blood is a method, the usability of which must still be proved. With the introduction of the modern cytostatic drugs the exposure of the whole body has lost significance. Lymphogranulomatosis: In this disease the radiotherapy has caused a decisive change: In these cases the recognition of the local development of the disease and its continuous spreading was decisive, and issuing from this also the simultaneous irradiation of the defluxion areas and the application of an oncolytic dose. According to the stage with or without combination of cytostatic drugs an exact plan of therapy is made. Here healing rates of 70-80% in stage I are to be expected. Myeloma: Here the radiotherpy has palliative tasks, with correct indication good effects are to be expected. Polycythaemia vera: In this disease radiotherapy in form of incorporation of radioactive phosphorus is the remedy of choice.