[Therapy of malignant lymphomas]

Prognostic factors in patients with Hodgkin's disease and the non-Hodgkin lymphomas are reviewed and discussed since they form the basis of the therapeutic approach to these conditions. Hodgkin's disease is treated according to stage, histology and other prognostic criteria and the appropriate management is presented in tabular form. In the non-Hodgkin lymphomas, prospective studies using the Kiel classification indicated that these lymphomas could be subdivided into types of low-, intermediate- and high-grade malignancy, each requiring different treatment modalities. An expectative approach is often, but not always, recommended in lymphomas of low malignancy. The natural history of lymphomas of high-grade malignancy is unfavourable and, usually, prolonged survival is observed only in those cases in which a complete remission is achieved. Our therapeutic approach to the various forms of these lymphomas is based on the stage of the disease and the respective schedules are summarized for lymphomas of low- and high-grade malignancy. Finally, the chances of cure in Hodgkin's disease and in the non-Hodgkin lymphomas are discussed and recent developments are mentioned.