Nasal lymphoma: results of local radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy

Primary nasal lymphoma is a rare disease. Although most patients are initially seen in early Ann Arbor stages, their prognosis is poor. The prognostic significance of local tumor bulk has not been well studied.

Twenty-one patients with nasal lymphoma treated between 1985 and 1992 were retrospectively studied. Sixteen patients (76%) below the age of 75 years received combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. One young patient with early disease and 4 elderly patients had radiotherapy alone. Twelve cases (57%) were diagnosed as pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma based on typical histologic features alone. Immunophenotyping was performed in 10 cases; 8 were T cell and 2 were B cell. Seventeen patients (81%) had Ann Arbor clinical stage IE disease, and 4 had stage IIE disease. The local tumor extent was assessed by endoscopy in all patients and by computerized tomography (CT) in 14 patients. Eleven local tumors (52%) extended to the posterior ethmoids, sphenoid sinus, orbit, or beyond. Using a T-stage system, the prognostic significance of local tumor bulk was evaluated for stage IE patients.

At a median follow-up time of 16.8 months, the lymphoma recurred in 13 patients; 10 patients had systemic relapse and 10 patients, local relapse. The 5-year actuarial overall survival rate was 24%. Complete response to chemotherapy was achieved in 5 of 16 patients (31%). Four of the 6 patients who remained alive and disease-free were chemotherapy complete responders. Among stage IE patients, those with early and those with advanced local disease did not have significantly different survival.

In view of the high systemic and local relapse rates, more-effective chemotherapy is needed to improve the survival rates, and the role of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be evaluated. Further studies are required to identify patients at high risk of relapse for clinical trials with investigational treatment.