[Subtotal body irradiation and its effectiveness in the treatment of patients with lymphogranulomatosis (first stage of therapy)].

Total-system radiotherapy in the form of subtotae irradiation of the body was administered to 43 primary patients with stages IIB-IVB Hodgkin's disease as the first stage of antitumor treatment as an alternative to chemotherapy. An immediate stable antitumor effect was observed manifasting by intoxication arrest, reduction of the lymph nodes in size and of specific infiltration in the lungs, as well as by decrease of red cell sedimentation rate. The mean duration of the course was 10.6 days with a 35.0 days interval till the next stage. Regularities in the time course of hematologic parameters over the course of subtotal irradiation and after it were followed up. Remote (5-year) results of treatment of patients with Hodgkin's disease making use of subtotal irradiation of the body at the first stage of antitumor therapy compatible to those in controls were demonstrated for the first time.