title: Radiation therapy alone versus radiation therapy and chemotherapy in the management of Hodgkin's disease.
abstract: Forty-four patients with histologically proven Hodgkin's disease underwent initial treatment with extended-field radiation therapy. Nineteen of these patients also received combination chemotherapy. For analysis, patients were assigned to three treatment groups: group 1 received radiation therapy only (25 patients); group 2 received combination chemotherapy followed by consolidative (low-dose extended-field) radiation therapy; and group 3 was treated with alternate chemotherapy and radiation therapy using the sandwich technique. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rates were 83% (group 1), 83% (group 2), and 100% (group 3). The overall actuarial survival rates were 96% (group 1), 92% (group 2), and 100% (group 3). No factor was identified as being of prognostic value in predicting relapse. We conclude that extended-field radiation therapy delivered in this manner is a safe and effective approach to the initial management of Hodgkin's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68105.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015996:Survival Rate