Non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomata of upper digestive and respiratory tract: natural history and results of radiotherapy.

A total of 218 non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomata of the upper digestive and respiratory tract are reported. 72% had Waldeyer's ring involvement and 22% had paranasal sinus involvement. Ilio-lumbar lymphography was performed in 98 cases: 33 lymphograms were abnormal. In 152 Stage I and II patients, loco-regional irradiation gave 129 remissions. Among these patients, 66 suffered a relapse, most of them during the first year after treatment. Primary relapse analysis revealed 18 true recurrences, 10 nodal extensions and 38 extranodal disseminations. The median survival is 14 months for all stages; the survival rate at 5 years is 38% for Stages I and II for patients treated by 60Co alone. No statistical significance in prognosis has been found for age, sex, size of primary tumour, involvement of upper or lower nodes in the neck, histological type nor between Stage I and Stage II. Lymphography and x-ray gastrointestinal examination must be performed routinely before treatment in order to stage patients correctly.