Results of Hodgkin's disease patients treated by radiotherapy

A total of 234 patients of Hodgkin's disease treated at 7 institutions from 1972 through 1985 were analyzed. Male to female ratio was 157 : 77, mean age was 39.8 years, and overall 5- and 10-year survival were 67 % and 56 %, respectively. Of 126 patients treated by radiotherapy with more than 36 Gy, alone or preceded to other treatments, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 84 % and 80 % for Stage I (43 patients), 79 % and 69 % for Stage II (71 pts.), and 52 % and none for Stage III (12 pts.), respectively. Survival rate was better for LP, NS and MC histologies as compared to LD, better for patients without constitutional symptoms, as compared to patients with B, and better for patients with ages younger than 59 years as compared to those with ages over 60 years. Relapse was observed in 57 out of 126 patients. Relapse within the irradiation field was observed in only 4, and nodal areas outside the field, especially of abdomen (1/3), were the most common sites. Half of the relapses occurred within 20 months, and 80 %, 40 months. Five-year survival of patients after relapse to lower torso lymph nodes (19 patients) was 37 %, which was worse than patients after relapse to upper torso lymph nodes (15 patients: 63 %) (z = 1.507, N.S.). (author)