[Progress and controversy in treatment of Hodgkin's disease]

T Robak1

  • 1Kliniki Hematologii AM w Lodzi.

Hodgkin's disease (HD) is a malignant disease originating from hematopoietic tissue which is characterized by the presence of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells. The vast majority of HD patients are cured with current standard therapy. Both megavoltage radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy are effective treatment modalities. Radiotherapy is curative for localized Hodgkin's disease, and it is now generally agreed that advanced Hodgkin's disease can be cured by combination chemotherapy. Data from uncontrolled trials suggest that in patients with advanced disease the addition of low-dose radiation to sites of previous disease involvement is associated with better long term and relapse free survival. Patients who relapse after initial treatment with chemotherapy are considered suitable candidates for systemic salvage programs. These programs may include treatment with the same drugs, the use of non-cross resistant chemotherapy programs or investigational programs such as high dose chemotherapy with autologous or allogenic bone marrow rescue. An appropriate management decision depends upon assessment of the disease and also on the impact of treatment side effects on the individual patients.

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