Treatment of malignant lymphoma with cobalt-60

An analysis of 50 patients with malignant lymphoma treated by Co-60 teletherapy is presented. Histologic classification was done as Hodgkin's disease, reticulum cell sarcoma, lymphosarcoma, and giant follicular lymphoma. Treatment scheme was made extended field treatment and adjuvant chemotherapy after determination of clinical staging. Treatment field was determined using simulator including Waldeyer's ring in case of neck extension, mantle field in case of mediastinum involvement and inverted Y shape in case of pelvic and para-aortic involvement. The total tumor dose was set to 5,000 to 6,000 rads in case of reticulum cell sarcoma, 4,000 rads to 5,000 rads in other cases and treated five times per week with daily fraction dose of 200 rads. Result) 1. The age incidence was most prevalent in 3rd to 5th decade. 2. 33 cases were male and 17 cases were female. 3. Reticulum-cell sarcoma was 42%, Lymphosarcoma 30%, Hodgkin's disease 16%, Giant Follicular lymphoma was 2%. 4. Clinical staging follows as; stage I 44%, stage II 22%, stage III 24%, stage IV 12%. 5. The main symptom was palpable mass on one side of the neck. 6. The Hb and WBC count was decreased somewhat proportionally relating to the field sizes and delivered doses. 7. Among 50 patients, dead patients was 16, where longest survival month was 29 month who was in stage I and 7 patients was alived more than 1 year. Crude 2 year survival rate wa 15.6%, and 1 year survival rate was 46.8%. 8. The relative longest survival was the one who had received extended field treatment and adjuvant chemotherapy. 9. There was no great difference in survival month between reticulum cell sarcoma and lymphosarcoma. 10. The follow up study rate was 64%