Management of early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma: is there still a role for radiation?

Although radiotherapy is highly effective for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, the realization of its potential long-term toxicity and the demonstration of excellent results from combination chemotherapy have led to a retreat from its use in early-stage disease. Recent trials using functional imaging may allow better identification of those patients for whom radiotherapy may be safely omitted without compromising cure rates and this review examines the evidence for this.