[Radiotherapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the nasal cavity--report of 48 cases].

From Mar. 1958 through Dec. 1977, a series of 48 patients with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the nasal cavity was treated by radiotherapy in our hospital. The incidence of the disease was only 4.8% (48/983) of all malignant lymphomas during the same interval. The ratio of this tumor with the lymphoma arising for the nasopharynx, tonsil and the base of the tongue is 1:2, 1:3, 9:1. It has an equal chance of locating on the left or right, but was bilateral in 4 patients. In 4, the nasopharynx; 3, the maxillary antrum and 14, the neighboring soft tissues were invaded. The stage IA and IIA lesions as treated by radiotherapy gave 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 year survival rates of 96%, 82%, 78%, 67% and 44% respectively. Stage IIIA lesions gave a 5 year survival of 25%. All patients with stage IIIB and IV lesions as treated by combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy died within one year. Those involving the neighboring soft tissues and organs could give a 5 year survival of only 25% and 33%. The prognosis was influenced by the stage and radiation technique. The radiation field must be extensive enough to include the whole nasal cavity (cross the middle line by 1 cm), nasopharyx, the ipsilateral maxillary antrum, hard palate and the regional lymphatic areas. An optimum dose of 5000-6000 rad/five-six week is advisable for this kind of tumour. It is suggested that total body or hemibody irradiation be advisable for cases with distant metastases. Late sequela of cataract calls for meticulous protection of the eye during the initial radiotherapy.