Diagnosis and management of Hodgkin's disease in the adult

Abstract

Appropriate management of Hodgkin's disease is based on both the stage of disease and the specific anatomic sites of involvement within each stage. As a result of the combination of sequential staging and effective treatment, histopathologic subclassification has become less important. Although not generally appreciated, this is also true for constitutional symptoms. During the past 15 years, differences in survival between early and advanced stages have diminished progressively with refinements both in management of newly diagnosed patients, and in management of relapsing disease. Currently, our five‐year survival figure for laparotomy‐Staged I and II patients is 95%. The corresponding result for Stages IIIA and IIIB patients is 85%; and 67% of our Stage IV patients, who were treated with mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) are projected to be surviving at five years. With the anticipation of a high probability for cure, quality of life including the possibility for parenthood has become increasingly important. In the past, the trend has been to increase treatment for patients with poor prognostic factors. However, very little attention has been paid to the possibility of administering less treatment for very precisely staged patients with good prognostic factors. In this review, management is discussed by stage. Emphasis is placed on the indications for less treatment as well as for more intensive therapy in adult patients with Hodgkin's disease.