Vertebral changes visualized by MRI and radionuclide studies of the skeleton in patients with Hodgkin's disease subjected to superdiaphragmatic and infradiaphragmatic radiotherapy

Twenty patients subjected to supradiaphragmatic and infradiaphragmatic radiotherapy were examined for radiation-induced vertebral changes. In nmr images, differences between irradiated and non-irradiated vertrebrae were discernable after no more than 2-4 weeks and could still be detected years after the termination of treatment. Those radiation injuries were much more pronounced in adults undergoing the treatment at a fairly advanced age. The differences between irradiated and nonirradiated vertebrae were to a lesser extent detectable by radionuclide studies of the skeleton. (orig.)