Prognosis and management strategies of lymphatic neoplasias in the elderly. II. Hodgkin's disease

Oncology
R Greil

Abstract

In Caucasians, Hodgkin's disease demonstrates constant incidence rates, with a first peak occurring in adolescents and in young adults, and a second peak in the elderly. Age is an important risk factor for overall survival of patients; staging strategies and treatment expose elderly patients to an even higher risk arising from surgical complications, death from secondary cancer and leukemia or lethal cardiac complications. In contrast to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, optimal staging and treatment procedures have not yet been defined for this disease in elderly patients. However, due to the very poor prognosis of inadequately treated patients, treatment recommendations at present must be based on those for younger patients while keeping the individual risk profile in mind. If staging laparotomy is omitted, most patients will require a combined modality treatment. While in low-risk patients a reduced number of cycles with full-dose chemotherapy like ABVD (Adriblastina, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) or of six cycles with less toxic drugs like VBM (vinblastine, bleomycin, methotrexate) followed by limited field radiotherapy may suffice, patients with well-defined risk factors will require a more prolonged chemotherapy. Currently, ...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 18, 2003·Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology·Pier Luigi Zinzani
Sep 2, 2003·Mutation Research·Kazuhiko OgawaShosuke Kawanishi

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