Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the sinonasal cavities: correlation of CT evaluation with clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively the primary site of origin of sinonasal lymphomas with computed tomography (CT) and correlate the CT findings with histologic phenotype and clinical outcome.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In 24 patients with stage I and II non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the sinonasal cavities, the CT appearances and clinical data were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The sites of primary tumor determined at CT were the nasal cavity in 13 patients, the ethmoidal sinus in three patients, and the maxillary sinus in eight patients. B-cell lymphomas were found mainly in the maxillary sinus, while T-cell lymphomas were found in the nasal cavity and ethmoidal sinus (P < .005). The 5-year survival rates in relation to the primary site of the tumor were 64% for the nasal cavity, 50% for the ethmoidal sinus, and 100% for the maxillary sinus (P = .26).

CONCLUSION

Patients with B-cell primary lymphoma of the maxillary sinus tended to have a good prognosis in contrast to those with T-cell lymphomas that originated from midline structures. The primary site determined at CT appears to be correlated with the histologic phenotype and clinical outcome.