Intrathoracic manifestations in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

A total of 16 of 86 patients (19%) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were found to have intrathoracic disease in this retrospective study. Paratracheal, mediastinal, and hilar lymphadenopathy was the commonest manifestation followed by pulmonary lesions and pleural effusion. The lymphoma was at an advanced clinical stage in all the patients with intrathoracic disease. About one-third of the intrathoracic lesions first developed at the time of relapse after successful initial therapy. There was a better response to therapy when intrathoracic disease was part of the initial presentation than when it was a manifestation of relapse. If it did not respond to therapy it was always indicative of a poor prognosis.