Effects of fractionated irradiation of endocrine aspects of testicular function.

We have examined the hormonal alterations of testicular function in 27 males (14 to 67 years of age) with soft-tissue sarcoma who were treated with surgery and high-dose radiation to the tumor bed. The testicular dose from scatter radiation ranged from 1 to 2,500 rad. There was a dose-dependent increase in the median per patient difference from baseline in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values following irradiation, with the maximal difference seen at 6 months. Recovery of serum FSH level was biphasic with a decline in the median difference in values between 6 and 12 months, followed by a gradual descent toward baseline. Only patients receiving less than 50 rad show early complete recovery 12 months after radiation therapy. Radiation injury also induced dose-dependent increases in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration, with the maximal median difference from baseline level occurring at 6 months. Only those patients receiving greater than 200 rad showed statistically significant LH changes...