Mantle field radiation is a type of extended field radiation administered occasionally in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Radiation is delivered to a large area of the neck, chest and armpits to cover all the main lymph node areas in the upper half of the body. A part of the lungs, heart and the shoulders are shielded from the radiation beam to reduce the side effects. The term 'mantle' is derived from the name of a garment, much like a cloak, used many years back. The shape of the radiation field resembles the shape of this cloak.
This type of large radiation field is not commonly used today. However, a few decades back, when very effective chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatment was not available, this technique was used to successfully cure a large number of patients with early stage Hodgkin’s disease. With advances in treatment, chemotherapy regimens are now used in all patients and radiation is only delivered to a small area that initially had enlarged nodes -- a technique called involved field radiation.
