Ovarian failure following abdominal irradiation in childhood

Ovarian function was studied in 18 female patients treated for abdominal tumours during childhood. All had received abdominal radiotherapy as part of their treatment and were studied between 1 and 26 years after irradiation. The serum gonadotrophins and oestradiol levels were consistent with ovarian failure in each case but there was a disproportionate elevation in serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) when compared to serum luteinizing hormone (LH) in 16. In 2 patients, the radiotherapeutic field extended downwards only as far as the sacral promontory. However, these two girls show similar evidence of ovarian failure to that in the other 16. (author)