[Results of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate and prednisone in recurring or disseminated non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the University of Kiel Radiology Clinic].

91 patients with malignant non-Hodgkin-lymphoma are discussed, who received a reinduction therapy because of their state of relapse or dissemination. All of them received chemotherapy as a secondary treatment. The drugs were cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone. The result were separately analyzed for lymphomas with "high-grade malignancy" and lymphomas with "low-grade malignancy" using the "Kiel-Klassifikation". Within the group of low-grade lymphomas, there were 29% complete remission, 56% partial remission, and 15% without response. In the group of high-grade malignant lymphomas there were 39% complete remission, 37% partial remission, and 24% without response. The curves of disease-free survival are similar for both groups of malignant low-grade and high-grade lymphoma. The curve for survival, irrespective of exacerbation, takes a more favorable course for low-grade than for high-grade lymphomas but reaches a common plateau at 30%. After 2 1/3 years 50% of the patients with low-grade-malignant lymphoma, and after 1 1/2 year 50% of the patients with high-grade-malignant lymphoma, are still alive. The longest period of disease-free survival is now 8 years in some cases. We attempt to draw conclusions from the results of the therapy about the nature of malignant non-Hodgkin-lymphoma and to give suggestions for its treatment.