Conventional and Conformai Radiotherapy with and without Beam Intensity Modulation in Patients with Stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma with Supradiaphragmal Lesions

Abstract

Within the group treated with the conventional RT 19 (8.1 %) patients had recurrent disease. Overall 5- and 10-year survival (OS) was equal and accounted for 98.0 ± 1.4 %, the disease-free survival (DFS) was also equal between groups and accounted for 85.9 ± 1.3 %. The rate of 5- and 10-year OS in patients who received CF was 97.8 ± 1.7 %; the DFS rate for the same period was 85.0 ± 1.5 % with standard fractionation and 86.2 ± 1.6 % with MF (p > 0.1). The total number of local radiation reactions and the number of radiation pulmonitis were significantly smaller with the exposure twice daily compared to CF at 2D planning and mantle irradiation. Decreasing the radiation volume from the mantle type to IFRT was shown to reduce the incidence of pulmonitis. The incidence of esophagitis remained the same with different fractionation and the irradiation volumes specified above. The results of the analysis proved the total absence of radiation pericarditis with both types of conformal RT with or without IMRT. No pulmonitis cases were observed with IMRT; the use of 3D-CRT and 2D-RT significantly increased the incidence of pulmonitis. The incidence of esophagitis within the CRT-group (n = 80) was 2 times lower compared to the conventional RT (22.5 % and 43.9 %; p < 0.01). Conclusion. The innovative technologies of radiation therapy allowed to reduce the incidence of early local radiation reactions. These technologies will be the basis for preventing severe late radiation complications that reduce the life expectancy and quality of life of patients with HL.