title: Radiation therapy for primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck.
abstract: From October 1977 through September 1986, a total of 77 patients (Stage I, 26; II, 35; and III-IV, 16) with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the head and neck were treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy (CVP or CHOP regimen) or radiation therapy alone. Actuarial 5-year survival rates by stage were 79% in Stage I, 35% in II, and 8% in III-IV. Significant prognostic factors were clinical stage (p = 0.0001), histological grade by the Working Formulation (p = 0.0089), and surface marker (T and B cell analysis) (p = 0.0001). In Stage II patients, the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (p = 0.0286), the number of cervical lymph nodes involved (p less than 0.03), and maintenance chemotherapy after initial treatment (p = 0.0077) were significant prognostic factors. In conclusion, more intensive chemoradiotherapy is necessary as the first-line treatment in those with poor prognosis, especially those with T-cell type and high grade histology. In addition, maintenance chemotherapy after initial chemoradiotherapy is very important for Stage II NHL patients, especially those with a high LDH value or multiple cervical lymph node involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Therapy, Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teshima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate