[Prognostic factors in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of Waldeyer's ring and the lymph nodes of the neck].

Prognostic factors and treatment outcome of 74 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of Waldeyer's ring (male 34, female 16, median age 63 years) and cervical lymph nodes (male 17, female 7, median age 62 years) were analyzed retrospectively. The prognostic factors analyzed were: age, B-symptoms, serum LDH levels, and Ann Arbor stage. We also analysed the TNM classification (1987) of Waldeyer's ring lymphoma (previously referred as nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal cancer) as a new prognostic factor. The 5-year-survival rate of the patients with Waldeyer's ring non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was 67%, compared with 34% for cervical lymph node lymphoma. In univariate analyses, unfavorable outcome was associated with age (age > 60 years), B-symptoms, elevated serum LDH level, and stage. Multivariate analysis showed that age and elevated serum LDH level were significant independent risk factors for death. The 5-year-survival rate according to TNM classification of Waldeyer's ring lymphoma was: T1 (4 cases) 75%, T2 (23 cases) 83%, T3 (10 cases) 56%, T4 (4 cases) 0%; according to N stage, N0 (15 cases) 91%, N1 (7 cases) 73%, N2 (11 cases) 55%, N3 (5 cases), M1 (3 cases) 0%, and according to TNM stage, stage I (one case) stage II (9 cases) 100%, stage III (12 cases) 80%, stage IV (19 cases) 34%. These results suggest that the N classification of Waldeyer's ring non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be a new prognostic factor.