[Comprehensive epidemiologic and clinico-pathologic study of Hodgkin's disease]

To determine the epidemiologic pattern and some clinicopathologic features of Hodgkin's disease (HD) in Hungary, the data of 233 consecutive patients with HD, diagnosed between January 1983 and July 1987 from seven county were analysed on the basis of data from 4 cancer centers. Large variations have shown in incidence rates within different regions of Hungary. The epidemiologic pattern seems to vary from those reported in developed and developing countries. A sharp rise in HD incidence occurs already at the end of second decade. More Hodgkin's patients have advanced clinical stages, systemic symptoms, mixed cellularity histologic type at the time of diagnosis than in Western hemisphere. On the average, there is a six months period between the appearance of the first sign or symptom and the diagnosis. There is a lack of data outlining the epidemiologic difference in the pattern of Central Europe. The aim of this study was to supply data for the etiopathogenetic research of HD. There is an important task to improve the unfavourable home situation, to strive to earlier diagnosis in HD.