Lymphocyte chromosome aberrations in patients undergoing radiation therapy for mammary carcinoma.

Patients undergoing radiation therapy for mammary carcinoma have been cytologically examined for the presence of polycentric chromosomes in their peripheral blood lymphocytes. The mean values of the observed yields can be fitted to a quadratic function. Due probably to a lower number of lymphocytes exposed the curve now obtained gives a smaller aberration yield than the dose effect curves published earlier for patients given telecobalt therapy.