The role of radiation therapy in localized resectable intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children.

Forty children with localized resectable intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were seen between 1948 and 1974. Survival was related to the extent of disease at presentation and to therapy. No deaths occurred after 15 months and no recurrences occurred after 13 months after diagnosis. Six of eight stage IE patients (75%) and nine of 29 stage IIE patients (31%) have survived a minimum of 2 years; one of the three stage IVE patients has survived 17 years. Unfavorable prognostic findings at surgery were serosal involvement, presence of tumor at the surgical margins, mesenteric nodal involvement, and the presence of abdominal fluid or blood. Paraortic nodal involvement or multiple primary foci were universally fatal. Eight of 11 patients (73%) treated with surgery and whole abdominal irradiation (greater than or equal 2000 rad) with or without chemotherapy have survived. Seven of 18 patients (39%) treated with surgery and low dose chemotherapy have survived. One of seven patients treated with surgery and localized or low dose radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy has survived. Four patients treated with surgery alone died. Bone marrow and central nervous system involvement occurred after previous disease relapse elsewhere.