Non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas of upper digestive and respiratory tracts

The history of 102 patients with primary Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the upper digestive and respiratory tract is reviewed. An analysis is presented of the histopathologic, clinical and prognostic features of these patients, who presented to the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam between 1958–1976. The histological slides were reviewed in 91 patients. Ilio-lumbar lymphography and bone marrow examination were performed in 44 and 66 patients respectively:4 lymphograms and 4 bone marrows were found to be abnormal. Of 82 patients with Stage I and II disease, there were 72 remissions with locoregional irradiation. Among these patients 36 suffered a relapse, 27 (75%) during the first year after treatment. The median survival was 14 months for all stages. The survival at 5 years was 28% for Stage I and 12% for Stage II patients. Prognosis was influenced by follicular cb/cc lymphomas, histiocytic poorly differentiated cell type, stage, size of primary tumor, and the radiation dose. We recommend adjuvant chemotherapy in Stage I and II patients after primary radiation treatment because of the high rate of primary relapse in distant sites.