Is first salvage chemotherapy the last-line chemotherapy in children with Hodgkin's disease? A tentative answer based on long observation of two patients.

In 82 children affected with Hodgkin's disease, in whom a complete remission was obtained, the first relapses occurred in 13 patients, their outcome was a follows: one child died of relapse and in 12 others second complete remissions were achieved. They were durable in 10 children (median, 65.5 months). Two remaining children had further relapses, their treatment consisted of four successive salvage chemotherapies. Both patients are now in their fifth complete remission. The third-line chemotherapy was already introduced 78+ months and 39+ months ago respectively. We believe that it is not possible to determine exactly the end-stage of Hodgkin's disease in those children and adolescents who have failed the first-line salvage chemotherapy.