[Clinical presentation, therapy and prognosis of non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the major salivary glands].

INTRODUCTION

About 5 - 10 % of all Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomas (NHL) present within the major salivary glands. Two etio-pathologically different groups, the (extranodal)-parenchymal NHL and NHL of intra- or periglandular lymphnodes (nodal lymphomas) have to be distinguished. It was the aim of this study to evaluate the clinical presentation, therapy and biological behaviour of these etiopathologically different lymphoma-groups.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: In a retrospective study, therapy and course of disease of 26 patients with a NHL of the major salivary glands were examined (diagnosis and treatment between 1988 and 1996).

RESULTS

Staging results in the group of parenchymal lymphoma always showed the disease limited to the effected gland, whereas nodal NHL presented with a stadium II to IV (Ann-Arbor) at time of diagnosis. Local recurrencies were five times higher in nodal NHL compared to parenchymal NHL. In only one case (7.7 %) of the patients with parenchymal NHL, dissemination was observed. In the group of nodal NHL, a dissemination was observed in 6 patients (46.2 %). 7 of 13 patients (53.8 %) with a nodal NHL died due to lymphoma dissemination, compared to one patient (7.7 %) with a parenchymal NHL.

CONCLUSION

Based on the presented data, the histopathological diagnosis, under special recognition of the particular lymphoma-pathogenesis, constitutes an important prognostic factor in patients with NHL of the major salivary glands.