Radiation therapy of adult T-cell leukemia

Between January, 1983 and December, 1991, 30 adult patients with T-cell leukemia (ATL) and lymph node or skin lesions resistant to chemotherapy were treated by irradiation. Thirty Gy of high energy x-rays, 60Co gamma rays or electrons was delivered to 22 lymph node lesions in 17 patients, for focal cutaneous lesions in 6 patients, and as total skin irradiation in 7 patients. Irradiation therapy was effective in all patients with skin lesions and in 12 of 17 patients with lymph node lesions. Symptoms such as pain or itching diminished in all cases and no severe side effects were observed. Radiation therapy thus achieved good control of ATL associated focal lesions resistant to chemotherapy. Even if the prognosis of ATL is poor, radiation therapy should be considered as a palliative therapy.