Value of pathological staging and long term results of pediatric Hodgkin's disease

ABSTRACT

This is a retrospective study which included 86 pediatric patients with histopathological diagnosis of Hodgkins disease treated at treatment was 97.7% [84 cases] with complete response rate of 64% and partial response rate of 33.7%. Sixty two patients were evaluable for long term survival and 79% [49 patients] were alive for a mean follow up of 62 months. The disease free survival was 54.8% with a mean follow up of 60 months. The disease free survival for pathologically confirmed stages was 85.7% while for those clinically confirmed 45.8% [P< 0.05]. Combined modality treatment [radio-and chemotherapy] lead to a higher total and disease free survival 92% and respectively than single treatment modality. Number of lymph nodes involved, pathological subtypes and staging methods of cases with stage II disease adversely affect the actuarial total survival while age and staging method of cases with stage II disease adversely affect the actuarial free survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, B-symptoms and staging methods of cases with stage I and II affect the disease free survival. These factors should be taken into consideration when planning a new protocol regimen for pediatric Hodgkin's disease