Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a survey from a district general hospital

We report a retrospective survey of 167 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) seen at a district general hospital between 1 August 1971 and 1 August 1983. Details of their clinical presentation, histology, therapy, response rates and survival are presented. The patient population reported is generally older than that seen at specialist centres and has a greater proportion of tumours with low-grade histology. Whereas specialist centres see a pre-selected population of patients, our data may be from a more representative group and this gives a truer incidence of this disease in the general population. The remission rates and overall survival of our patients are comparable to those achieved at specialist centres. We conclude that it is both feasible and desirable for patients with NHL to be assessed and treated in a district general hospital with a radiotherapy department.