Hodgkin disease (1973–2002): long-term survival and cure fractions

Abstract

The Nottinghamshire Lymphoma Registry contains the details of all patients diagnosed with lymphoma (since 1 January 1973) within a defined geographical area with a stable population of 1.1 million. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative survival and estimate the cure fraction for patients with Hodgkin disease (HD) using various cure fraction models. Five- and 10-year survival was estimated in comparison to the general population of the same age, gender and year of diagnosis. Relative survival probabilities at 10 years were 52.3% for the 1973–1982 cohort, 67.8% (1983–1992) and 75.7% (1993–2002). The estimated cured fraction (π) was 45%, 65% and 75%, respectively, for the same cohorts. There was very little excess mortality after 4 years from treatment. The prognosis of patients with HD has improved progressively within a defined unselected population over this 30-year period. In the 1993–2002 cohort the prognosis after 4 years of treatment is almost the same as for a normal population.

Keywords::

• Hodgkin disease
• relative survival analysis
• cure fraction models
• chemotherapy
• radiotherapy

Acknowledgement

The Nottinghamshire Lymphoma Registry has been generously supported by Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Bloom and family of Nottinghamshire for many years.

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.informahealthcare.com/lal.