Clinical Features of 110 Cases of Primary Extranodal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PE-NHL). Methods: The data of 110 patients diagnosed as PE-NHL between January 2001 and May 2008 were reviewed. Results: These PE-NHL patients counted 60.11% of the 183 malignant lymphoma patients at the same period. The primary sites affected were the gastrointestinal tract 21.82% (24/110), Waldeyer ring 10.91% (12/110), nasal cavity 9.10% (10/110), soft tissue 9.10% (10/ 110), mediastinum 7.27% (8/110) and other unusual sites 41.82% (46/110). Symptoms and signs of PE-NHL were not specific, and 77.27% of these cases had a swelling organ or lump of the primary organ affected. According to the International Prognosis Index (IPI), the percentage of patients in low, intermediate, and high group was 41.11%, 44.44% and 14.44%, respectively. Immunophenotype was assayed in 93 cases. The percentage of B-cell lymphoma was 69.90% while that of T-cell lymphoma was 30.10%. For those 95 cases treated, the effective rate including complete remission (61.05%) and part remission (16.84%) was 77.89%, the median survival was 30 months, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 27%. While, for patients with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (PGIL), the complete remission rate, part remission rate and the effective rate was 65.21%, 17.39% and 82.60%, respectively. The median survival was 24 months, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 30%. Conclusion: PE-NHL is more common than nodal lymphoma. The symptoms and signs of PE-NHL of different sites are quite different. To improve the curative strategies of PE-NHL, it is important to make an allround understanding of PE-NHL and follow reasonable mode of diagnosis and therapy.