[The present status of therapeutic possibilities in malignant lymphomas]

The therapeutic strategy in the treatment of malignant lymphomas changed somewhat in recent years. In Hodgkin's disease except for exceptional cases (mediastinal involvement) either radiotherapy alone is used or more frequently chemotherapy alone. Optimal treatment is a chemotherapeutic combination of four drugs (MOPP or ABVD). In low grade malignancy non-Hodgkin lymphomas so far cytostatic monotherapy is still the standard treatment, the assumed curative effect of an aggressive combined chemotherapy is being tested. As to new cytostatics, attention is drawn to fludarabine phosphate. In high-grade malignancy non-Hodgkin lymphomas chemotherapy may have a curative effect if the correct principles of its administration are respected, in particular adequate dose intensity in the initial cycles. This demand is met by third generation combinations. The author mentions also contemporary therapeutic possibilities of resistant forms and draws attention to problems of treatment of relapses in Hodgkin's disease and in non-Hodgkin lymphomas.