Treatment of localized non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the head and neck.

Abstract

Localized non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the head and neck are generally treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, although the results of treatment of localized non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with of treatment of localized non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with chemotherapy alone appear to be favorable. It is unclear if and when combined modality therapy should be used. The authors reviewed the records of 53 patients with Stage I or II non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck, who were treated with radiotherapy alone (13 patients), chemotherapy according to the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone- (CHOP) regimen (27 patients), or a combination of both treatments (13 patients). A complete remission was achieved in 43 (81%) patients. The 5-year survival for all patients was 78%. A significant difference (P = 0.03) in 5-year relapse-free survival was observed between Stages I and II disease, of 92 and 60%, respectively. Extensive tumor was a significantly poor prognostic factor (P = 0.04) with a 5-year relapse-free survival of 52 versus 84% for patients with nonextensive lymphoma. Eight relapses occurred; in five patients, a local relapse was the first presentation. Although salvage radiotherapy was successful in these five patients, a distant relapse developed in three. No relapses were observed in previously irradiated areas. Our results suggest that radiotherapy alone is the appropriate treatment for nonextensive Stage I intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck. For extensive Stage I or II non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, chemotherapy is preferable. The value of combined modality therapy remains unclear.