[Non-gonadic complications of chemoradiotherapy in Hodgkin's disease. A study of eighty-three patients (author's transl)].

Eighty-three patients with Hodgkin's disease were treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 43 were included in protocol 1 (from january 1970 to january 1974) and 40 in protocol 2 (february 1974 to december 1977). In protocol 1, staging laparotomy was not systematically performed (20 cases). Treatment consisted of 2 intravenous injections in Vinblastine and total nodal irradiation. In protocol 2, laparotomy was systematic in patients over 50 (35 cases). Patients with stages 1 and II treated as mentioned above. Patients with stage III received two Mopp courses followed by total nodal irradiation. Patients older than 50 with stages I and II and poor prognosis factors received chemotherapy only. Laparotomy was associated with a 0% mortality rate and a 3,6% morbidity rate. No myelitis or pericarditis were observed. Herpes zoster occurred in 24% of the patients, pulmonary apex fibrosis in 6%, hypothyroiditis in 2,4%, and leucopenia in 3,6%. Two late infectious complications were fatal. No solid tumor was apparent. Acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma developed in two patients. Good tolerance, shortness of treatment, and remission rate, warrant the pursuit of protocol 2 in which systematic laparotomy for patients under 50 allows total nodal irradiation and therefore reduction of chemotherapy.