Variable clinical presentations of nasal and Waldeyer ring natural killer/T-cell lymphoma

To determine the clinical characteristics, prognosis, and treatment outcome for patients with nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (N-NKTL) and Waldeyer ring NK/T-cell lymphoma (WR-NKTL).

A total of 145 patients with N-NKTL and 95 patients with WR-NKTL were compared.

Compared with N-NKTL, WR-NKTL exhibited distinct differences in clinical features with a propensity for nodal involvement, more advanced stages, low elevated lactate dehydrogenase, intermediate chemosensitivity, and a favorable prognosis. Compared with patients with WR-NKTL, patients with N-NKTL were associated with a lower overall response (54% versus 89%) and higher persistent or progressive disease after initial chemotherapy (46% versus 11%; P = 0.000). The 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 67% and 56% for N-NKTL and 65% and 47% for WR-NKTL, respectively. Patients with stage II WR-NKTL showed favorable prognosis compared with those with stage II N-NKTL. Compared with radiotherapy alone, patients with early-stage WR-NKTL that received radiotherapy and chemotherapy showed a superior progression-free survival and improved overall survival. In contrast, the addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy did not provide any survival benefit for patients with early-stage N-NKTL.

N-NKTL and WR-NKTL represent heterogeneous groups with variable clinical features, responses, prognosis, and treatment options.