[Causes and differences of recurrences in lymphogranulomatosis following primary radiation therapy (author's transl)]

A retrospectively explored group consisting of 62 patients with lymphogranulomatosis Stage I to III, who had undergone primary radiation therapy, revealed recurrences in 23 cases (37%). (he recurrences are more frequent in unfavorable histological subclassifications and in advanced stages. 76% appear during the first two years, almost 90% of them in the region of lymphatic chains, preferably in the cervical or mediastinal region, in the hili and the contiguous lung. 75% of the recurrences are attributed to insufficient dosage. Typical recurrences, therefore, develop at the border of irradiation fields and are due to an incorrect calculation of the dose when applicating extended fields and individually shaped lead blocks. Other 25% are found in nonirradiated lymphatic areas.