Lethal midline granuloma-nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to discuss lethal midline granuloma (LMG)-nasal natural killer (NK) T-cell lymphoma (LMG-NTL).


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
LMG is a rare entity that usually arises in the nasal cavity, exhibits a male preponderance, and has a wide age range. The majority of LMGs are LMG-NTLs. The optimal treatment of LMG-NTL is unclear and is most likely moderate-dose radiotherapy. The prognosis for patients with LMG-NTL is significantly worse than for patients with other types of head and neck non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The 5-year survival rate is approximately 20% but may be higher, depending on whether patients with less aggressive forms of NHL are included. Initial local-regional disease progression is the predominant pattern of treatment failure. Late failures after 5 years are uncommon.


CONCLUSIONS
LMG-NTL is a rare nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma that can be difficult to distinguish from other benign and malignant entities. Its clinical course, however, is extremely aggressive. The patterns of failure suggest a role for more aggressive local-regional treatment, as well as more effective chemotherapy.
Mendenhall
William M
WM
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA. mendewil@shands.ufl.edu
Olivier
Kenneth R
KR
Lynch
James W
JW
Mendenhall
Nancy Price
NP
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006103:Granuloma, Lethal Midline / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis