[An experience gained with mantle irradiation in Hodgkin's disease vs. various regimes of dose fractionation].

Primary patients with stage II-III AB Hodgkin's disease (255) received either standard-fractionated mantle irradiation (SFMI), accelerated hyperfractionation (AHF) or combined treatment using polychemotherapy (CTPT) (1985-1997). Out of 110 patients, 33 (30.0%) were given radiotherapy alone and 77 (70.0%)--combined treatment. Out of 145 patients treated with AHF, that therapy alone was given to 48 (33.1%) and combined treatmento 97 (66.9%). Objective response to primary therapy was reported in 90.0% of SFMI-treated patients and 87.6% of AHF-treated patients. On the whole, the recurrence rates in the SFMI group were higher than in the AHF group (25.5% and 14.5%, respectively, p < 0.05). In the latter group, out of 28 (25.4%) cases of pulmonitis, 10 (30.3%) received radiotherapy alone and 18 (23.4%)--combined treatment. AHF patients developed 19 (13.1%) pulmonites which occurred in that group in 3 (6.3%) SFMI patients and in 16 (16.5%) combined treatment patients. Pericarditis was reported in 11 (4.3%): SFMI- 8 (7.3%), AHF -3-(2.1%), p=0 . 04. To summarize, daily fractionated regimes were followed both by lower rates of relapse and cardiopulmonary complications.