Pediatric hodgkin's disease. II. Results of therapy.

Between 1962 and 1972, 79 previously untreated children, aged 15 years and under, with biopsy-proven Hodgkin's disease were seen, evaluated, and treated at Standford University Medical Center. The 5-year actuarial survival for all patients was 89%; relapse-free survival was 66%. No relapse was seen following aggressive treatment with irradiation and MOPP chemotherapy. In patients who were pathologically staged, no relapse was seen beyond 2 years. Patients with mixed cellularity subtype fared surprisingly well as compared to those with the nodular sclerosing subtype. An analysis of the types of treatment administered and complications of therapy suggests that the major difference between children and adults with Hodgkin's disease is the potential for long-term sequelae resulting from aggressive treatment. In an attempt to maximize the quality of survival, a proposal is made for low-dose radiation and planned MOPP chemotherapy.