Stage I high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: a retrospective analysis.
BACKGROUND
The treatment strategy for stage I non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) is far from being clearly established.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients (pts) with clinical stage I high-grade NHL treated between 1983 and 1989 have been retrospectively reviewed. Nineteen pts were treated by radiotherapy (RT) alone; 14 pts received chemotherapy (CT) followed by adjuvant RT, 3 pts CT alone and 1 pt underwent surgery alone. All pts with bulky disease were submitted to combined therapy.


RESULTS
Estimated 7-yr overall survival (OS) was 82%, while freedom from relapse (FFR) was 73%. No differences in OS and FFR were recorded with regard to the type of treatment, site of the tumor, sex or histology.


CONCLUSIONS
Our conclusion is that stage I NHL, even with unfavourable histology, may be successfully treated with RT only; however, CT before RT may be recommended in pts with a higher risk of relapse, i.e. the presence of bulky mass.
Gherlinzoni
F
F
Istituto di Ematologia L. e A. Seràgnoli, Università di Bologna, Italy.
Mazza
P
P
Bocchia
M
M
Zinzani
P L
PL
Fiacchini
M
M
Zanchini
R
R
Pileri
S
S
Tura
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis