Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the tonsil. A clinicopathologic study of 65 cases.

Sixty-five patients presenting to M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute with Stages IE and IIE primary tonsillar lymphoma between 1954 and 1981 were reviewed. All cases were non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, with the majority being diffuse large cell lymphoma (85%). Initial therapy was radiotherapy alone in 54 patients, radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in 8 patients, and chemotherapy alone in 3 patients. Stage was the most important prognostic factor, with 86% and 41% 5-year survivals for Stages IE and IIE, respectively (P = 0.006). Lymphangiography was crucial in staging patients with clinically positive cervical lymph nodes because 94% of clinically staged IIE patients developed recurrent disease, in comparison with only 50% of lymphangiogram-staged IIE patients. The incidence of large cell lymphoma was so high as to preclude analysis of survival by histologic type. From this limited series, radiotherapy alone would appear to be sufficient initial therapy for Stage IE patients, whereas Stage IIE patients probably benefit from the addition of prophylactic chemotherapy. Relapses were most common in nonirradiated lymph-node-bearing areas, with the majority presenting in the first 2 years following initial therapy. The salvage of relapsing patients has been disappointing, with the best hope residing in combination chemotherapy.