[Hodgkin's disease in childhood: long term results]

Between 1965 and 1976, 83 previously untreated children aged 15 years and under, with biopsy-proven Hodgkin's disease (HD) were evaluated, treated and followed at Hospital Saint Louis, Paris. Clinical stages were IA-IIA for 59 patients, IB-IIB for 19 patients and III-IV for 5 patients. Two main kinds of treatment were used: monochemotherapy-radiotherapy (MCT-RT) for 26 patients who have received mantle field irradiation followed by a monthly Vinblastine injection during 3 years; 57 patients have received a combination of MOPP and radiotherapy (MOPP-RT). The MOPP-RT treated patients have a significantly better survival and relapse free survival than the MCT-RT treated patients (86.9% vrs 76.1% and 83.5% vs 65.4%). Thirteen relapses were observed after a median complete remission of 30 months: 6 patients are now free from disease and one is still under treatment. Ten patients are dead after a 55 months median survival: 7 died from H.D. and 3 from treatment toxicity. No 2nd cancer or leukemia were observed until now. The main long term complications of therapy were sterility in male patients, growth defects and disturbances of thyroid functions.