Long Term Results after 3 Courses of ABVD Plus Subtotal Nodal Radiotherapy in 188 Adult Patients with Stage Ι,ΙΙ and ΙΙΙA Hodgin Lymphoma

In patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) a continued improvement in outcome with a high cure rate is observed but with an increased treatment-induced late effects. We report the long-term results from 188 (stage I to IIIA) patients treated during the period 1985–94 with 3 courses of ABVD-like chemotherapy and subtotal nodal radiotherapy. 10 year overall survival is of 88% and no secondary leukaemia was observed. The main long term toxicity was cardiac, mainly related to a mediastinal dose of 45 Grays in patients with partial remission. New strategies are aiming to reduce the mediastinal dose at 30 Grays after chemotherapy-induced complete remission.