[The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the thyroid].

Retrospective analysis was made of 30 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated from 1967 through 1983 at the Department of Radiology, Osaka University Hospital, according to the Ann Arbor staging classification modified by us. Overall five-year survival and five-year relapse-free survival were 62% and 60%, respectively, with one out of 9 cases treated since 1979 being lost due to relapse. In cases with disease localized in the thyroid and neck nodes (Stage IIE-a, by modified classification), five-year survival of 74% was obtained, whereas in those with the lesion extending to the mediastinum (IIE-b) or axillae (IIE-c), the survival pattern was similar to that with Stage II and IV. Complete local control was obtained in all cases by radiotherapy.