Malignant lymphoma of the tonsil

Abstract Thirty patients with lymphoma of the tonsils were treated in the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital between January 1991 and December 2001. Good prognosis was obtained in stage I tonsillar lymphoma with either radiation or chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate in stage II disease was 76% with either full cycle chemotherapy or induction chemotherapy followed by radiation. In the latter instances, locoregional recurrences increased but did not impair survival. Otolaryngologists should play an important role in improving survival by diagnosing primary tonsillar lymphoma and by detecting early local recurrences.