Histology as a Prognostic Factor in 100 Cases of Hodgkin's Disease

Abstract

The paper deals with 100 cases of Hodgkin's disease, treated at the National Cancer Institute of Milan from 1949 to 1958, all submitted to clinical follow-up until the end of November 1966 or death. Histologically, the 100 cases were grouped as follows: 14 paragranulomas, 15 nodular scleroses, 49 polymorphous granulomas and 22 Hodgkin's sarcomas. Paragranulomas showed the best average median and 10-year survivals, nodular sclerosis the best 5-year survivals; Hodgkin's sarcomas showed the worst clinical evolution, without 10-year survivals. The behaviour of the disease was found to be more unfavourable in the third and fourth decades of life, more favourable in the fifth decade. In men the evolution was slower, after an initial unfavourable course; no 10-year survival was observed in women. Nodular sclerosis prevailed in early diagnosed patients, paragranuloma and Hodgkin's sarcoma in late diagnosed cases. Eighty-eight of the 100 patients were at III and IV clinical stage at admission, only 12 at I or II stage. Nearly all cases of nodular sclerosis concerned patients at the III stage, with mediastinal involvement; Hodgkin's sarcoma was more frequent in patients at the IV stage. Five-year survival at the IV stage was observed only in patients with paragranuloma or nodular sclerosis; these two histological types prevailed also in patients without general symptoms. Polymorphous granuloma and Hodgkin's sarcoma were more frequent in patients with general symptoms.