Hodgkin's disease in children. Results of therapy in a mixed group of 178 clinical and pathologically staged patients over 13 years

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Abstract
A total of 178 previously untreated children with biopsy-proven Hodgkin''s disease of clinical stages I and II were treated and followed between 1965-1978. Staging laparotomy was performed in 30 patients. Of the patients, 94% obtained a complete remission; 24 patients died. The actuarial survival rate for all patients was 90% at 5 yr, and 81% at 10 yr. The disease-free survival rate was 69% at 5 yr, and 65% at 10 yr. When nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone (MOPP) chemotherapy was added to extended field or involved field irradiation, the relapse rate was significantly decreased as compared with the protocols without MOPP and prophylactic para-ortic irradiation. Surgical staging may not be necessary as splenic involvement may be treated in some patients by MOPP chemotherapy alone or in association with splenic para-aortic radiotherapy. However, the side effects of MOPP need further study by other chemotherapy programs.