MANAGEMENT OF EARLY-STAGE HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA - THE RADIATION ONCOLOGY EXPERIENCE AT NORTHWESTERN-UNIVERSITY NORTHWESTERN-MEMORIAL-HOSPITAL

Early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma patients treated with radiotherapy alon e or combined modality therapy were retrospectively analyzed for survi val, patterns of failure, salvage, and toxicity. Of 75 evaluable patie nts, 47 were given radiotherapy alone and 28 were given combination ra diotherapy and chemotherapy. Of the patients studied, 26 were clinical stage I and 49 were clinical stage II, with nine patients upstaged at laparotomy. Minimum follow-up was 2 years, with a median of 81 months . Complete response rate was 95%. Relapse-free survival and overall su rvival were 89% and 96%, respectively, at 2 years; 78% and 86% at 5 ye ars; and 76% and 82% at 10 years. Of 16 patients who relapsed (21%), 1 3/47 patients were treated with radiotherapy and 3/28 were treated wit h combined modality therapy. Salvage rates were higher in those treate d with radiotherapy alone. There were 13 deaths: six from disease, two from treatment-related complications, and five from second primary ma lignancies. There was a higher incidence of second malignancies and de aths due to complication in patients treated with combined modality th erapy. Radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy is an effective modalit y in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Treatment should be selected properly to optimize results and decrease complications.