[Clinical data and therapy of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses (author's transl)].

From 1950 to 1979 276 malignant tumors of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses were treated in the Clinic of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology of the University. 40 cases (14,5% of these tumors) were diagnosed as malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 18 cases of them could be classified according to the so-called Kiel classification. There were 11 highly malignant lymphomas (including 7 immunoblastic lymphomas) and 7 low malignant (immunocytic) lymphomas. Basing on the histologic types of lymphomas and the predominant localization in the inner nose and the anterior ethmoidal sinus a pathogenetic importance of a chronic immunologic inflammation for the development of the lymphomas is suggested. Highly malignant immunoblastic lymphomas have a poor prognosis, almost all tumors generalize and lead to death within one year. Therefore, after the initial staging procedure, after the primary therapeutic irradiation and the following operation a polychemotherapy must be performed. The prognosis of immunocytic lymphomas is somewhat better, they generalize more seldom than highly malignant lymph node tumors. From the findings presented here the conclusion can be drawn that in the region of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses the regional lymphatic spread of lymphomas is of little importance only.