[Gonadal load in the radiotherapy of benign diseases. I. Degenerative joint diseases].

The gonadal load was measured during radiation therapy of humeroscapular periarthritis, coxarthrosis, diseases of the vertebral column and of the sacro-iliac joint (disease Bechterew) for different irradiation techniques. All measurements have been performed by LiF dosimeters and with an Alderson phantom using 250 kV X-radiation. The gonadal dose with respect to the surface dose was in the range of tenths of one per mill in case of humeroscapular periarthritis and reached values up to about 30 per cent in coxarthrosis and Bechterew disease. Measurements during irradiation of the vertebral column yielded most differing values of the gonadal load depending on gonadal distances from the region exposed.