Treatment of clinical stage I Hodgkin's disease by local radiation therapy alone. A United Kingdom childrens cancer study group study

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Abstract
The UKCCSG study of the treatment of Hodgkin's disease between January 1982 and January 1988 accrued 209 patients. Of these, 59 had clinical Stage I disease. These 59 patients were treated with radiation therapy alone to sites of initial involvement. In case of relapse, combination chemotherapy was used. With a median follow-up of 3 years, 50 patients are alive with no evidence of disease after radiation therapy alone. Nine patients have relapsed between 5 and 55 months (median time to relapse, 18 months). Eight patients have been successfully treated with combination chemotherapy and are alive with no evidence of disease (one of these patients having had two relapses). One patient has died after widespread relapse. Of the 59 Stage I disease patients, 85% are relapse free after single-modality treatment. Overall survival is 98%. Long-term complications are minimal at this stage but long-term follow-up is essential.