Salvage extended-field irradiation in follicular nonHodgkin's lymphoma after failure of chemotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of total abdominopelvic (TAI) and total b ody irradiation (TBI) in heavily pretreated follicular non-Hodgkin's lympho ma (NHL). Patients and Methods: From 1983 to 1998, 34 patients received TAI (n = 22) or TBI (n = 12). All had Stage III or IV, Class B, C, D NHL in the working formulation and failed after receiving 1-5 regimens of chemotherapy, TAT wa s given at 20 Gy over a 3-week period. TBI was delivered in two successive half-body irradiations of 15 Gy over a 2-week period with a 4-week interval between each. Results: Mean follow-up from TAI or TBI was 120 months (range, 6-180), Seve nty-six percent of patients achieved complete response and 24% partial resp onse. Median survival was 62 months, 5-year and 10-year overall survival wa s 59% and 41%, and disease-free survival was 56% and 30%, respectively. Gra de III or IV toxicity was gastrointestinal in 38% of patients and hematolog ic in 30%, No toxic death or delayed complications were observed. Conclusion: Extended-field irradiation is feasible and efficient after fail ure of chemotherapy in follicular NHL, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.