RADIOTHERAPY FOR HODGKINS-DISEASE

The multicenter studies of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group h ave proven the high efficacy of definitive radiotherapy for early stag e Hodgkin's lymphoma (I - II B). About 20% of the patients will experi ence recurrent disease, but 70% can be salvaged by chemotherapy. There fore, life expectancy is almost normal in this collective. Intermediat e stages of the disease (I-IIB with risk factors, IIIA) are treated wi th chemo- and radiotherapy. With this combined modality treatment, rel apse and survival rates are almost as good as in early stages. In both groups quality of radiotherapy as assessed by a radiotherapy panel is a main prognostic indicator for relapse free survival.