Residual masses on follow-up computed tomography in patients with mediastinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

During the last 4 years we have treated four patients with extensive mediastinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). None had extrathoracic disease and they were clinically stage I-II. All received intensive combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy resulting in good response. Nevertheless, when treatment was completed, computed tomography (CT) showed a residual mediastinal mass in all four patients, who have remained alive and well for more than 19 to 45 months after completion of therapy and without any supplemental treatment. The residual masses gradually regressed or resolved on follow-up CT, suggesting that they did not contain malignant components.