Treatment scheme. Initial 2 cycles were based on pretreatment evaluation. Only high-risk patients (IPS of ≥ 3) were started with escalated BEACOPP (EB). Patients with early unfavorable and those with an IPS less than 3 had 2 cycles of standard BEACOPP (SB). Following 2 cycles of chemotherapy, additional therapy was determined according to the results of the interim scintigraphy. Those with a persistently positive scintigraphy interpreted as residual disease were treated with 4 additional cycles of EB. Patients with a negative scintigraphy were treated with additional 4 cycles of SB.