Oncofertility in men cured of Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a child

Abstract

Hodgkin’s lymphoma, being a highly malignant disease, has now acquired the property of a curative one. The article describes the basic principles of therapy of children with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, slow fixation of risk-adapted treatment positions. The possibility of complete cure of most patients appeared, which made this tumor a unique model for studying the remote consequences of cancer treatment. After the antitumor treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, boys may suffer from testicular insufficiency (due to cytostatics), obstructive azoospermia (as a consequence of radiation therapy in the pelvic area), hypogonadism (secondary - after exposure of the pituitary gland to radiation, primary - after exposure of the pelvis due to the toxic effects of cytostatics). In order to reduce the gonadotoxicity of treatment, studies are being conducted to modify chemotherapy in the direction of lowering the doses of alkylating cytostatics, reducing the doses of radiation therapy without losing the effectiveness of treatment. Regardless of the cause of male infertility diagnosis includes the collection of reproductive history, external examination of the genitals, analysis of ejaculate, ultrasound examination of the scrotum, assessment of hormone levels (follicle stimulating hormone, total testosterone, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, inhibin B, thyroid stimulating hormone).

Keywords

• boys
• hodgkin’s lymphoma
• gonadotoxicity
• fertility
• alkylating drugs
• radiation therapy