Total body irradiation and high-dose melphalan with bone marrow transplantation at Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy

The technique of total body irradiation (TBI) developed at Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy, is described. This technique consists of i) administration of 12.5 Gy and 14.85 Gy TBI for autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation respectively; ii) in all cases in vivo dosimetry of absorbed TBI dose; and iii) radiation doses to lungs higher than previously described. As of June 1988, seventeen patients with Hodgkin's disease and four with lymphoblastic lymphoma received TBI and 120-180 mg/m2 melphalan. Respiratory function was prospectively evaluated demonstrating moderate and transient reduction of pulmonary function.