Chemotherapy-Radiotherapy versus Chemotherapy in Hodgkin’s Disease with Bone Marrow Involvement

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Abstract
A retrospective analysis was performed on 32 patients suffering from Hodgkin’s disease with bone marrow involvement treated between 1972 and 1976. After 6 courses of chemotherapy (MOPP for 25 patients), we observed 20 complete remissions (62.5%), 8 lymph node partial remissions (bone marrow sterilization but persistence of pathological lymph nodes) and 4 failures. Among the 28 complete or partial responders, 17 received maintenance chemotherapy alone, 9 were submitted to 40 Gy and 2 to 20 Gy irradiations. 15 patients died and 8 relapses occurred – all in previously involved lymph node areas. Survival of complete and partial responders is significantly different (p = 0.01) according to whether they received maintenance chemotherapy alone (34.5%) or irradiation (75.7%). Disease-free duration is also significantly different (p = 0.05) according to whether the patients received maintenance chemotherapy alone (42.1%) or 40 Gy irradiation (100%).