[The clinical significance of bone involvement in patients with primary lymphogranulomatosis]

A retrospective analysis of 2450 case histories of primary Hodgkin's disease established bone lesions incidence at 3.8%. They occurred in cases of general symptoms (6%) rather than otherwise (1.6%). Bone involvement came about chiefly via the blood flow pathway (59%), with several bones being involved in most cases. Dissemination through contact was less frequent 39%), the breast bone or vertebrae being involved relatively more often. Both radiation and polychemotherapy caused local healing effect which would lead to full recovery of bone structure in some cases. Therefore, combined (polychemotherapy + radiation) treatment should be recommended in cases of single lesions whereas treatment for multiple lesions may be limited to medication.