Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck: prognostic factors

A series of 127 patients were studied, presenting with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck between 1962 and 1986. Clinical data on the site of tumour, stage, patient's age, sex, condition and outcome were compared with the pathological diagnosis and lymphoma type according to the Kiel classification. Pathological material was received and new preparations made, including immunohistology where appropriate. An exact pathological classification was possible in 102 patients, and most were either centroblastic or centroblastic/centrocytic, with diffuse morphology. Other types of lymphoma were too few in number to enable correlation of histological type with prognosis. The most significant factor was the pathological stage at presentation, and it was important to examine trephine specimens of bone marrow to ensure accurate staging.