Prognostic and survival factors in head and neck extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

To make a clinical-biological characterization of this pathology and assess the survival of these patients and the associated prognostic factors.

A retrospective observational study was designed to identify primary extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the head and neck diagnosed between January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2016. Cases were considered if they presented with a single tumor in situ or if the extranodal component was clinically predominant.

A total of 145 patients were included. Localized stages (I-II) were present in 69.3%. Overall, 91.8% were B-cell phenotype, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma being the most frequent. Overall, 78% of patients were treated with immunochemotherapy. The overall survival at 3 and 5 years was 75% and 73%, respectively. Adverse prognostic factors were: low hemoglobin, elevated ß2-microglobulin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), stage III/IV, and B symptomatology at diagnosis. The progression-free survival at 3 and 5 years was 71% and 68%. Risk factors for relapse were high ß2-microglobulin, high LDH, and stage III-IV at diagnosis.

These pathologies show a good response to treatment with immuno-polychemotherapy. Factors associated with a worse prognosis included low hemoglobin, elevated levels of ß2-microglobulin and LDH, elevated ECOG, stage III/IV, and B symptomatology at diagnosis.