[Changes in the serum level of female sex hormones following radiocastration using different total doses].

We determined serum levels of estradiol, FSH and LH over a period of six to eight weeks after ovarian irradiation for castration with different doses (2 x 2.5 Gy/3 x 2.5 Gy/4 x 2.5 Gy) in 15 patients with metastatic breast cancer as compared to changes after ovariectomy in five patients. The time course of the changing estradiol-, FSH and LH-serum levels significantly depends on the ovarian dose. After radiological castration with a dose of 4 x 2.5 Gy = 10 Gy in four days the estrogen levels decrease within two to three weeks, and the FSH- and LH-levels increase after three to four weeks into the postmenopausal range. Therefore, the time course is not very different from changes after ovariectomy.