Comprehensive radiotherapy for advanced Hodgkin's disease refractory to chemotherapy

Seven patients with advanced nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease who relapsed after initial intensive combination chemotherapy were selected for individualized pathologic restaging and comprehensive radiotherapy. One patient failed to respond completely to mantle-field irradiation and no further staging or radiotherapy was undertaken. Six other patients underwent staging laparotomy and received total nodal irradiation including prophylactic lung irradiation (5 cases) and hepatic irradiation (3 cases). Irradiation was well tolerated. Complete remission was achieved by 5 patients and 2 continue in remission 29+ and 32+ months after beginning of irradiation. Five of the 7 patients remain alive. This study indicates that comprehensive irradiation is a relatively well tolerated and effective treatment for carefully selected patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease who have relapsed after combination chemotherapy. For selected patients, pathologic restaging and comprehensive radiotherapy can be considered as an alternative to further chemotherapy.