Haematologic evaluation after radiation therapy in Hodgkin's disease

Haematologic evaluation of 30 patients 2 to 7 years after radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease was made. A complete general recovery of haematopoiesis occurred as concluded from the normal or even supranormal blood cell values. However, in only 5 of 28 patients was a complete local regeneration of haematopoiesis observed in the sternal marrow biopsies after 38 to 48 Gy. In the other cases, haematopoiesis was numerically or morphologically abnormal or totally absent.