Results of radiotherapy in Hodgkin's disease

An analysis was made of the results of irradiation therapy applied during the period 1965-1976 to 131 patients with Hodgkin's disease. The results of radiotherapy only of clinically positive lymphogranuloma localizations were compared with those of irradiation of both positive and negative nodes. The evaluation criteria used were the numbers of 3-year long primary remissions, 3-year long survival rates, frequency of onset and localization of relapses. Better therapeutic effects were achieved by radiotherapy as regards duration of primary remission, survival rate and frequency of relapses in originally clinically negative nodes proximate to positive nodes. However, the number of trans-diaphragmatic and extralymphatic relapses did not decline. A 5-year survival rate regardless of the irradiation method and clinical stage in 131 patients (1965-1974) was attained by 70.2%. The discussion bears on problems of an optimum radiotherapy and combined radiochemotherapy, and the significance of diagnostic laparotomy in lymphogranuloma.