[Total body irradiation in the preparation of leukemic patients for bone marrow transplantation]

Total body irradiation is today the main conditioning method for patients who have bone marrow transplantation. The most diffuse procedure, as proposed at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center of Seattle, has been employed in this study. Our clinical material comprises 16 patients; 5 with acute lymphoid leukemia; 5 with acute myeloid leukemia; 4 with chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated fase; and 2 in blastic crisis. Clinical results and toxicity are discussed, with emphasis to interstitial pneumonia.