ASSESSMENT OF RENAL-FUNCTION FOLLOWING IRRADIATION OF THE INTACT SPLEEN FOR HODGKIN DISEASE

Patients (23) with clinical Stage IA-IIIB Hodgkin''s disease underwent extended-field radiotherapy, including the intact spleen. In 17 of those patients, there was little evidence of the renal dysfunction, resulting from partial irradiation of the left kidney, which is inherent in such treatment. While isotopic images revealed an anatomic defect in the upper pole of the left kidney in 1/3 of the patients, dynamic studies showed that this anatomic alteration was not accompanied by any demonstrable dysfunction. Consistently normal serum BUN [blood urea nitrogen] and creatinine levels in all patients tended to affirm that conclusion.