Stage I-II low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: prognostic factors and treatment results

48 patients with stage I-II low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated by radiation and/or chemotherapy between 1970 and 1986. The histologic types were diffuse lymphocytic well differentiated, eleven patients; nodular lymphocytic poorly differentiated, 28 patients; nodular mixed, nine patients. Complete remission was obtained in 45 patients (94%). Overall survival was 83% and 68% at five and ten years, respectively. Five and ten-year relapse-free survival of complete responders was 71% and 57%, respectively. Univariate analysis of potential prognosticators showed the following to significantly increase the survival rate: one or two sites of disease (p less than 0.01), stage I (p less than 0.02), age less than 65 years (p less than 0.02), complete excision of tumor mass (p less than 0.03), and the use of radiotherapy (p less than 0.02). The extent of radiotherapy field did not affect survival. Multivariate analysis by the stepwise proportional hazards model of Cox showed that the use of radiotherapy was the factor which significantly produced better survival figures (p less than 0.03). It is concluded that two thirds of stage I-II low-grade lymphoma patients are potentially curable; radiotherapy plays a major role in the management.