A contribution to the study of Hodgkin's disease: A late follow-up

Abstract

Abstract The histories are given of 5 patients treated for Hodgkin's disease in 1955 by thymectomy in addition to the standard procedures of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. One died of myeloid leukaemia 6 1/2 years later, 1 died of Hodgkin's disease nearly 13 years later, and 3 are alive and in good general health at between 14 and 15 years later, 2 without disease and 1 with evidence of the disease on radiology and scanning in the liver and spleen. The probability is that these results stem from the standard procedures of treatment rather than from the thymectomy. Possible ways in which thymectomy might have an influence on the course of Hodgkin's disease are discussed. An additional case is reported of a young man who is alive and well without evidence of disease 8 years after excision of a mass of lymphosarcomatous lymph-nodes from the neck followed by thymectomy. No radiotherapy was given.