Hodgkin's disease stage I and II with exclusive subdiaphragmatic presentation. The experience of the departments of radiation oncology and hematology, University ''La sapienza'' of Rome

During the period 1978 to 1994, 1054 patients with Hodgkin's disease were evaluated and treated at the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Hematology, University ''La Sapienza'', Rome, A total of 549 patients presented with clinical or pathological stage I and II; 37 of these had Hodgkin's disease below the diaphragm (BDHD), and 512 above the diaphragm (ADHD), A comparison of patients with BDHD versus those with ADHD showed that the first group had a higher male to female ratio, A comparison of cases with stage II BDHD versus those with stage II ADHD showed that patients with BDHD were older (48 years vs 28 years), had different histologic features and a higher incidence of systemic symptoms (67% vs 33%). Stage II BDHD patients had a worse prognosis; in fact, there were significant differences in the overall survival and relapse-free-survival rates for cases with stage II BDHD versus those with stage II ADHD (overall survival, 46% vs 80%, P<0.001; relapse-free survival, 44% vs 69%, P<0.005). Stage was found to be the most important prognostic factor for BDHD cases without systemic symptoms treated with radiation therapy alone. The type of infradiaphragmatic presentation (intra-abdominal vs peripheral disease) did not Influence outcome, probably due to the more aggressive therapy received by the intra-adbominal group, Treatment recommendations for BDHD cases should be tailored to the stage and the presence or absence of intra-abdominal localization. For patients with stage IA extended fields, irradiation (inverted Y) is sufficent, However, combined modality therapy should be the treatment of choice for stage ii cases, particularly in the presence of intra-abdominal disease. Patients with systemic symptoms also require combined modalities.