PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN HEAD AND NECK NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SERUM LACTIC DEHYDROGENASE AND SERUM COPPER

An analysis of prognostic variables was performed in a retrospective study of 121 patients with Ann Arbor stage I–II head and neck non-Hodgkin's lymphoma admitted from 1973 to 1988. The overall actuarial 5-year survival rate was 58.8% and the minimum follow-up 15 months. Nine clinical and laboratory parameters were studied, including serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and serum copper (SCL), and subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. In univariate analysis, histology and LDH were found to be significant prognostic variables. Evaluation by Cox's multivariate proportional hazard model revealed histology, SCL and sex to be of prognostic significance.