Reduced incidence of second solid tumors in survivors of childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma treated without radiation therapy

Background: We assessed the risk of developing second malignancies in children treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), the majority of whom received chemotherapy only.Patients and methods: The development of second malignancies in children with HL, treated between 1960 and 1999, was assessed. Results were obtained by both chart review and linkage with a centralized cancer registry. Tumor incidence was compared for patients treated with and without radiotherapy (RT) and with the general population. Risk factors for developing second tumors were assessed by multivariate analysis.Results: Of 142 childhood HL patients, 63 had received RT and 79 had not. Overall survival was similar for both groups. Fourteen patients developed second solid tumors, 12 who had received RT and 2 treated with chemotherapy only (P