Extranodal lymphomas of head and neck with emphasis on NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

To determine the occurrence, clinical course and outcome of our patients with natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL), nasal type. The nasal type of natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL), is rare in the European population but is more frequent in Asia, Central and South America where it accounts for 15-20% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). This type of lymphoma is characterized by tissue necrosis and destruction of the nasal cavity and upper aero-digestive tract. The disease is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and has an aggressive clinical course, poor clinical outcome and high resistance to chemotherapy.

63 patients with NHL were treated in our department between 2006 and 2011. Eleven patients were diagnosed with extranodal lymphoma, 6 in the area of head and neck. Three of them belonged to NKTCL, nasal type group (4.7%), 1 was diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 2 were marginal zone lymphomas.

Two out of 3 patients with nasal type NKTCL, had extremely aggressive disease resistant to applied chemotherapy (anthracycline containing regimen), while 1 patient remains in complete remission 6 years after diagnosis.