Aggressive craniofacial lymphoma in the pre-rituximab and rituximab era.

8038 Background: Among 4,165 patients treated in trials of the German High Grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL), 316 pts had craniofacial involvement by their lymphoma. Methods: To analyze clinical characteristics and response to therapy of 316 pts with craniofacial lymphomas treated with CHOP-like chemotherapy with and without rituximab (R). A retrospective analysis was performed to compare characteristics and treatment outcome of pts with craniofacial lymphoma to all the other pts of these trials. Results: Of the 316 pts, 32 had orbital, 101 paranasal sinus, 44 main nasal cavity, 109 mouth, 28 tongue and 57 salivary gland involvement. Pts with craniofacial lymphoma presented with a significantly lower LDH, better performance status, lower Ann Arbor Stage and less bulky disease compared to the entire population (elevated LDH: 16.8% vs. 35.9%, p= 1: 2.8% vs. 10.1%, p=<0.001; stage III/IV: 28.2% vs. 40.7%, p=<0.001; bulky disease: 14.9% vs. 39.3%, p=<0.001). 3-year event free surviv...