[The 5- and 10-year survival and long-term effects of radical radiotherapy in patients with stage I-III Hodgkin's disease].

Radical radiation treatment was given to 152 patients suffering from stage I-III Hodgkin's disease in 1967-1977. Exposure was limited to the lymph collectors above the diaphragm in cases of stage I tumor. Exposure was extended to para-aortal lymph nodes and spleen (or splenic base) in cases of stage II tumor. All three levels were irradiated in cases of stage III. Mean five-year survival rate in the entire group was 89% (stage I-93: IIA-92.8 and IIIA-82.3%); ten-year rate-66.6%. Recurrences were detected in 43.5%; 75% of them were identified within the first two years after radiation. Relapse was more frequent in cases of mixed cell pattern of tumor and lymphoid depletion. Radiation-induced injuries of varying degree were found in 28%, changes in the lungs and soft tissues were prevalent. A relationship between radiation injury frequency and the extent of exposure was established: radiation injury was observed in 4% of stage I cases and in 63% of patients with stage III tumor. Radiation-induced malignancies (breast cancer and fibrosarcoma of ilioinguinal soft tissues) were found in two cases out of 152 at different periods of the study.