The prognostic significance of first and second remission after first and second relapse radiotherapy in Hodgkin's disease.

New aspects concerning the prognostic importance of remission following first treatment and second relapse treatment have resulted from a retrospective study of 175 patients who received primary treatment for Hodgkin's disease between 1964 and 1971. By means of renewed radiotherapy 27 out of 66 (=41%) patients were again brought to full remission with 10 of the 66 (=15%) patients reaching partial remission. The prognosis of the second full remission is equal to that of the first full remission, the prospect of cure being retained. The prognosis of relapse patients following renewed radiotherapy is dependent on: 1. the type of the previous remission, whether full or partial, 2. the localization of the recidive, 3. the primary stage and the presence (or absence) of signs of activity B, 4. the histology, and 5. the age of the patient.