Prognostic Factors in Stage I and II Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of Waldeyer's Ring

Sixty-nine stage I and II patients treated for non-Hodg-kin's lymphoma of Waldeyer's ring were retrospectively analysed. Diffuse histiocytic lymphoma (Rappaport's classification) was the most common histology (67%). Staging without laparotomy revealed 31 patients in stage I and 38 in stage II. Sixty-five patients received radiation therapy against involved or extended fields. In 43 patients adjuvant chemotherapy with single or multiple agents was given and 4 patients received only chemotherapy. A relapse occurred in 34 (49%) patients. The 5-year relapse-free survival was 67 per cent and 36 per cent in stage I and stage II, respectively. Radiation doses of 50 Gy gave no recurrence within treated volumes. However, since relapse below the clavicles and especially below the diaphragm was common, the radiation doses did not seem important for reduction of the overall failure rate. In stage II, patients with a single neck node less than 5 cm in diameter seemed to have a better prognosis than patients with large...