[Results of radiation therapy of stage I-II non-Hodgkin's lymphoma localized in the head and neck: Osaka University Hospital experience].

A retrospective analysis of 251 patients (stage I: 125; stage II: 126) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma localized in the head and neck and treated between 1971 and 1985 was performed. Of these, 28 patients (11%) had histology of low-grade malignancy, and 218 (87%) had intermediate malignancy. Waldeyer's ring was the most frequent site of involvements (114 cases), extranodal site (91), and cervical lymph node(s) (46) in the order. Treatment consisted of radiation therapy alone in 173 patients and 78 patients were treated with chemotherapy combined. Local control rates by radiation therapy was 95%. Five-year survival and relapse-free survival rates were 72% and 61%, respectively, in stage I, and 63% and 54%, respectively, in stage II. A brief chemotherapy for 2 cycles followed by local-regional radiation therapy appeared better survival as compared to initial radiation therapy alone.