Recovery of lymphocyte status after radiotherapy

A survey of the lymphocyte status is reported for 25 patients given routine radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix or carcinoma of the breast and other tumours. After an initial lymphopenia there was a return to the initial value of the lymphocyte count by the end of a 12 month period of observation. The PHA index was also measured in these patients and this also showed a progressive rise during the 12 month period following a minimal change after radiotherapy. There was no significant difference between the lymphocyte status of patients given radiotherapy above or below the diaphragm nor between patients with or without knwon metastases at the end of the 12 month period. An additional sample of eight patients with carcinoma of the breast showed a rise in lymphocyte count after surgery before the usual fall after radiotherapy.