PREGNANCIES AFTER ENDOLYMPHATIC THERAPY OF RESIDUAL RETROPERITONEAL HODGKIN LYMPHOMA

Abstract

Three young women with Hodgkin lymphoma (stage III and IV) had residualretroperitoneal lymphoma after 6 cycles of standard chemotherapy. To preserve fertility,chemotherapy was subsequently continued as a single endolymphatic injection of 60 mgBleomycin in oily suspension (Oil Bleo). Except for slight, transient fever in one patient, noside effects occurred. Follow-up plain X-rays with lipoidal stained lymph nodes showed amarked reduction in size of the retroperitoneal lymphomatous lymph nodes in all 3 patients.Each woman became pregnant between 2 and 14 months after endolymphatic therapy andbore healthy infants. Two of the women remain free of disease. The third has had a recurrencein the neck and has been treated with second-line intravenous chemotherapy.Endolymphatic therapy of retroperitoneal lymphoma may achieve a satisfactory result inselected patients while preserving fertility