Hodgkin's disease and acute leukemia. Is it a true association?

The incidence of secondary malignancy was assessed in 537 patients with Hodgkin's disease treated with radiotherapy (128 patients), chemotherapy alone (156 patients), or in combined modality therapy (253 patients) between January 1973 to September 1985 with a median follow-up of 7.5 years. The dose of radiation therapy, dose of cytotoxic drugs and sequence of treatment was carefully analyzed. No cases of acute leukemia or other secondary malignant disease were identified in these cases. No differences in clinical laboratory features or treatments were identified in relation to previous reports. Racial difference is the unique feature which seems to avoid the development of this complication in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease. We hope that other reports in Latin America can contribute to the identification of race as the difference.