A CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDY ON NONHODGKIN'S MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA IN NASOSINUS REGION

Twenty-eight cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in nasosinus region were studied for tumorsurface marker phenotype, anti-HTLV-I antibody titer and histopathologic correlation with clinical features. The incidence of these cases was 25% of all lymphomas in head and neck region from 1978 to 1987. In 16 cases, 12 (75%) had T-cell markers and 4 (25%) had B-cell markers. Of 11 cases, 6 (54.5%) were anti-HTLV-I antibody carriers. Five year survival ratio of all patients was 4.5%. The survival curve for T-cell lymphoma patients was characterized by a rapid initial decline. The survivals of the group of anti-HTLV-I antibody carriers was estimated inferior to those of non-carriers. Correlation of HTLV-I to prognosis of these patients was discussed.