Outcome of patients with nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma treated with radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
This study reviews the outcome of patients with nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma treated at the Therapeutic Radiology Department, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, from 1997 to 2003.


METHODS
Twenty-one consecutive patients treated with radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
The median age was 44 years (range, 27-86 years). Thirteen patients had stage I disease, five had stage II disease, and three had stage IV disease. Immunophenotyping was CD 56+ in 18 patients. Median follow-up for patients still alive was 23.4 months (range, 8.9-78.5 months). A median dose of 50 Gy (range, 35-56 Gy) was delivered. Sixteen patients also received chemotherapy. Two-year overall survival was 52.8%. Five patients had rapidly progressive disease, with a median survival of 89 days from diagnosis. The other 16 patients had complete remission, after which four relapsed. There were two local relapses.


CONCLUSIONS
This disease often carries a poor prognosis, despite multimodality treatment. Radiotherapy may contribute to local control in some patients.
Tham
Ivan Weng Keong
IW
Therapeutic Radiology Department, National Cancer Centre, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610.
Lee
Khai Mun
KM
Yap
Swee Peng
SP
Loong
Susan Li-Er
SL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D017211:Treatment Failure