Irradiation therapy in Hodgkin's disease.

The study of Hodgkin's disease includes many interesting pathologic and clinical ramifications. One of the most consistent observations in this disease has been that, although the lesions appear radiosensitive, the mortality rate is high. Previous reports from this institution (34, 35) have outlined the general therapeutic approach and given the survival figures obtained in the past. It is the present purpose to bring up to date the results of irradiation therapy in Hodgkin's disease at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and to review fundamental concepts on the nature of this disease and its therapeutic management. Historical Data Historical reviews of Hodgkin's disease can be found in numerous publications and here will be limited largely to references (2, 16, 17, 18, 22, 26, 32, 38, 40, 49–53, 55, 56). A particularly accurate histologic description of the characteristic cells was given by Reed (40), in 1902. Many suggestions as to the cause of Hodgkin's disease have been made, but none has been subs...