[Results of radiation therapy of stage I-II non-Hodgkin's lymphoma localized in the head and neck--a report of the Japanese Lymphoma Radiation Therapy Study Group].

A retrospective analysis of 1514 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated between 1972 and 1985 was performed. Of these cases, 114 with histology of low-grade malignancy and 750 with intermediate malignancy were localized in the head and neck. All patients received definitive course of radiation therapy, including 390 cases with adjuvant chemotherapy. For cases with low-grade malignancy, all cases were locally controlled and five-year relapse free survival rates were 85% in stage I, and 75% in stage II. For cases with intermediate malignancy, local control rates were 97% in stage I, and 87% in stage II. Five-year survival rates were 67% in stage I and 50% in stage II. There were no benefit on survival rates from adjuvant use of chemotherapy with radiation therapy as compared to radiation therapy alone.