[Recurrence in Hodgkin's disease: incidence, therapy and prognosis. (Experience with 134 patients)]

Of 157 patients with Hodgkin's disease treated between 1970 and 1981 an assessment of the clinical course was possible in 134 cases. Remissions were achieved in 120 patients (89%). 51 patients (43%) relapsed subsequently. The highest relapse rates were seen in advanced stages of the disease and in patients with unfavourable histological subgroups (mixed cellularity and lymphocyte depletion). Second remissions were achieved in 40 patients (78%), the remission being complete in 33 cases (65%). Patients who had received radiation therapy primarily, responded significantly better to secondary treatment than patients who had received chemotherapy initially. The predicted five-year survival rate is 70% for patients with complete remission after relapse and 34% for patients with partial remission. Though a relapse of Hodgkin's disease can frequently be treated with curative outcome, patients with certain high-risk factors (e.g. large mediastinal tumour, stage III2, lymphocyte depletion histology) need more intensive induction therapy.