Intestinal lymphoma: exploration of the prognostic factors and the optimal treatment

Primary gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma accounts for 4% to 20% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), being the most common extranodal site of presentation. However, the optimal management of intestinal lymphoma has not yet been established. During the period of 1994 to 2001, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 67 intestinal lymphoma patients diagnosed according to the Lewin's definitions. The most frequently involved location was ileocecal (35.8%) followed by small bowel (31.3%), large bowel (19.4%), and multiple GI involvement (13.4%). The estimated 5-year overall survival rate was 53%. Out of all treated patients, 49.2% achieved complete response. The advanced stage, poor performance and T-cell phenotype had an adverse prognostic influence on overall survival. In localized diseases (stage 1 and 2), the primary surgical treatment had the most favorable influence on failure-free survival (P < 0.05). The resection of localized intestinal lymphoma may be appropriate as the primary treatment.