Outcome of children with Hodgkin's disease. A 10-year experience from a single institution in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of children with Hodgkin's disease over a period of 10-years from a single institution in Kuwait. METHODS: Sixty-three children with previously untreated Hodgkin's disease, who were diagnosed at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of Kuwait Cancer Control Centre, Shuwaikh, Kuwait from January 1998 to December 2007 were included in the study. All cases were proved by histopathology, and staging was carried out according to the Ann Arbor system. RESULTS: Our series included 37 (59%) males and 26 (41%) females with a median age of 10 years (range 3-15 years). B symptoms were present in 20 (32%) children. Bulky disease was noted in 28 (44%) children, with stages III in 8 (13%) and IV in 12 (19%) children. Chemotherapy was administered as a primary treatment in 63 children. The median number of chemotherapy cycles given was 6 (range 2-8). Radiotherapy was used in 40 (63%) children. Grade III hematological toxicity was observed in 23 (37%) and grade IV in 14 (22%) children. Hypothyroidism was observed in 20 (32%) children. Fifty-five children achieved a complete remission (87%) and 2 children achieved a partial remission (3%) with an overall response rate of 90%. Three children achieved a progressive disease (5%) and response could not be evaluated in 3 (5%) children. At a median follow-up of 67 months (5.5 years), the overall survival was 91%. CONCLUSION: With moderate toxicity, combined modality therapy is effective in the treatment of childhood Hodgkin's disease.