Long-term follow-up of testicular function following radiation therapy for early-stage Hodgkin's disease

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · J. Clin. Oncol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6068377

Kinsella, T J; Trivette, G; Rowland, J; Sorace, R; Miller, R; Fraass, B; Steinberg, S M; Glatstein, E; Sherins, R J

Seventeen male patients with pathological staged I-IIIA1 Hodgkin's disease were followed prospectively for radiation damage to the testes from low-dose scattered irradiation. During conventionally fractionated radiation therapy, the testicular dose ranged from 6 to 70 cGy. Testicular function was measured in a prospective fashion by repeated analyses (every 6 to 12 months) of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. Patients were also followed by serial semen analyses and by a questionnaire on fertility. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 7 years after completion of radiation therapy. In patients receiving greater than or equal to 20 cGy, there was a dose-dependent increase in serum FSH values following irradiation, with the maximum difference at 6 months compared with pretreatment levels. All patients showed a return to normal FSH values within 12 to 24 months following irradiation. No significant changes in LH and testosterone were observed in this patient group. Eight patients with a normal pretreatment semen analysis provided serial semen samples and two patients showed transient oligospermia with complete recovery by 18 months following treatment. Four patients have fathered normal offspring following radiation therapy. We conclude that low doses (greater than 20 cGy) of scatter irradiation during treatment for Hodgkin's disease can result in transient injury to the seminiferous tubule as manifested by elevations of FSH for 6 to 24 months following treatment. Below 20 cGy, FSH values remained in the normal range. No evidence of Leydig cell injury (using LH and testosterone) was seen in this dose range (up to 70 cGy). Thus, patients with early-stage Hodgkin's disease can be treated with radiation therapy with little to no risk of irreversible testicular injury. Radiation treatment techniques to shield the testes are discussed.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, Madison (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6068377
• Journal Information: J. Clin. Oncol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Clin. Oncol.; (United States) Vol. 7:6; ISSN JCOND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
FSH
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HODGKINS DISEASE
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
IRRADIATION
KETONES
LH
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
LYMPHOMAS
MALE GENITALS
MALES
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SCATTERING
SIDE EFFECTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TESTES
TESTOSTERONE
THERAPY