Abstract

MEGAVOLTAGE RADIOTHERAPY, currently in use as curative therapy for stage I, II, and III A Hodgkin's disease, is effective also in localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.1–9 Abdominal lymphoma can be treated with megavoltage irradiation of para-aortic and pelvic lymph nodes delivered in large opposing fields in the shape of an inverted-Y.10 Such treatment is usually associated with minimal gastrointestinal side effects and reversible radiation injury to the gastrointestinal tract.11This report describes a patient who unexpectedly developed chronic radiation enteritis following treatment of localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using the inverted-Y radiation therapy technic. The reasons for this complication are discussed and the difficulties in clinically distinguishing radiation enteritis from recurrent abdominal lymphoma are stressed.