Outcome of secondary myeloid malignancy in Hodgkin's disease: the BNLI experience

In Hodgkin's disease where the majority of patients are long‐term survivors secondary myeloid malignancies are a well‐documented complication. The survival of those who develop secondary myelodysplasia/ acute myeloid leukaemia (MDS/AML) is historically said to be extremely poor. This study from the BNLI database of over 4900 patients with Hodgkin's disease reports long‐term follow‐up of 30 patients with secondary MDS/AML. Five patients have survived at least 5 yr (1>12 yr) from the time of diagnosis of AML. These patients were significantly younger ( p =0.03) than those who succumbed to this complication and each also had standard or favourable risk cytogenetics. The actuarial 5‐ and 10‐yr survival rates are 17.4% (7.7–34.9%, 95% CI) and 8.7% (1.9–31.7%, 95% CI), respectively. There is therefore a subgroup of patients who will achieve long‐term survival despite the development of secondary myeloid malignancy.