Sternal changes following mediastinal irradiation for childhood Hodgkin's disease.

Sternal changes following mediastinal irradiation are described in 78 children with Hodgkin's disease. Incidence and severity of changes are correlated with total sternal dose. Megavoltage irradiation, with a nearly equal absorbed dose ratio between bone and soft tissue, and improved depth dose characteristics, has markedly decreased the incidence and severity of bone changes. No moderate or severe changes developed following megavoltage techniques, in contrast to orthovoltage therapy.