Cardiac toxicity due to chemotherapy is unusual, but can occur. Typically patients undergo a MUGA scan to evaluate LVEF prior to initiating chemotherapy. Repeat MUGA scan is performed in most centers only if clinical concerns over cardiomyopathy arise. Mild peripheral neuropathy due to chemotherapy is common. Patients complain of numbness in fingertips and toes.
Motor neuropathy is unusual.
Other side effects can be seen, depending on the chemotherapeutic agents used. If the gallium scan becomes negative and a radiological complete remission is obtained, the prognosis is excellent. Practically all recurrences occur in the first year after diagnosis. A patient in continuous remission for 2 years after initial diagnosis is likely to be cured. Patients who do not respond to initial treatment or who develop disease recurrence should undergo high dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation.