Objective    To analyze the efficacy

dose and complications of total body irradiation (TBI) for patients to receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the treatment of leukemia and malignant lymphoma.     Methods    From May 2002 to February 2007

78 cases with leukemia or malignant lymphoma received the TBI before HSCT in our department. All the patients were irradiated with linear accelerator in 2 consecutive days at a total dose of 7 to 11 Gy

dose rate of 4.5 to 5.0 cGy/min

once per day. Among them

55 cases received traditional high-dose chemotherapy before radiotherapy

and the other 23 cases got TBI first followed by high-dose chemotherapy.     Results    All the cases used TBI prior to transplantation was successful

and no serious complication such as radiation pneumonitis was observed.     Conclusion    Our TBI regime is a safe and effective pretreatment for HSCT. TBI used before the large doses of the chemotherapy is recommended because it is proved to be effective

without affecting the survival rate

and of lesser TBI reaction and of lesser preparation work for irradiation to radiotherapist. More attention should be paid when the linear accelerator is employed for TBI.