The role of radiation therapy in the management of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Radiation therapy has a broad range of applications in the management of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It has curative potential for patients with Stage I to II low-grade lymphoma (small lymphocytic, follicular small cleaved, and follicular mixed) and has substantial palliative efficacy in patients with more advanced stage low-grade lymphoma. Low-dose whole-body irradiation may be used as palliative therapy even in patients with bone marrow involvement by these lymphomas. In the management of the large cell lymphomas (diffuse large cell, diffuse mixed, and immunoblastic), radiation alone has curative potential in only the most favorable early-stage presentations. However, since radiation can achieve significant responses in these tumors, it should be considered for inclusion in combined-modality programs. Reports that have appeared in the literature as well as results of treatment at Stanford that bear upon these issues are reviewed.