title: Addition of a short course of chemotherapy did not improve outcome in patients with localized marginal B-cell lymphoma of the orbit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary orbital malignant lymphoma (POML) is a rare malignancy, thus treatment remains to be defined. The present study was designed to define if the use of radiotherapy is sufficient in these patients or if the use of adjuvant chemotherapy would improve the outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1983 and 1995, 98 previously untreated patients diagnosed with POML, stage IE, were randomly allocated to receive either radiotherapy (34-40 Gy) or the same radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy including anthracycline. The median follow-up was 11.4 years (range 9.8-10.8 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete response was similar in both arms: 98% (95% confidence interval, CI: 89-100%) in the radiotherapy arm, and 100% (95% CI: 89-100%) in the combined therapy group. At a median follow-up of 16.4 years, event-free survival was 94% (95% CI: 87-100%) and 85% (95% CI: 88-100%), respectively. Overall survivals were: 96% (95% CI: 89-99%) and 91% (95% CI: 83-98%). No statistical differences were found. Acute and late toxicities were mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of chemotherapy is of no further benefit, since the results did not differ, thus, radiotherapy will be considered as the treatment of choice in POML patients.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Research Unit, Oncology Hospital, National Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, México, México. agustin.aviles@imss.gob.mx
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avilés
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calva
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huerta-Guzmán
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cleto
authors.forename: M Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nambo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines