Management of nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's disease stage I, II A and B: evidence for a beneficial effect of MOPP on the relapse rate.

85 patients with previously untreated Hodgkin's disease with stage I, II A and B nodular sclerosis were treated. 31 of them with stage I and II A were submitted to radiotherapy alone. All are alive, but 9 of them (30%) relapsed. On the contrary, 35 patients with stage I and II A, and 19 with stage I, II and IIE B were submitted to radiotherapy followed by three courses of MOPP. All 54 patients are alive and relapse-free. No severe complication related to chemotherapy was observed. The analysis of results suggests that 3 courses of MOPP can significantly (Ip < 0.00025) reduce the relapse rate in patients with stage I and II nodular sclerosis, eligible for radiotherapy, without increasing morbidity.