The management of Hodgkin's disease: Half a century of change

Abstract

The results of treating more than 2600 patients with Hodgkin's disease at Stanford over a 35-year period are summarized. It is now a reality that Hodgkin's disease can be cured with initial treatment programs in virtually all patients, except the elderly. Histologic factors, staging methods, and prognostic groups are becoming less and less relevant. The current protocols used at Stanford and elsewhere will be reviewed to emphasize that combined modality is really the key to improving the cure rate and minimizing late complications.