[Malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the bony cavity of the face. Apropos of 17 cases].

Malignant non Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are fairly frequent, but involvement of the bony cavities of the face is less common than invasion of the cervical lymph nodes and the lymphoid components of Waldeyer's ring. In connection with a series of 17 personal observations, the authors discuss the main features of NHL and review the diagnostic problems and therapeutic alternatives. Two histologic-clinical entities can be defined: orbital NHL: generally stage I, with a low or intermediate histoprognostic grade and a good prognosis; naso-sinusal NHL: often locally advanced, these lesions are often associated with other visceral disease sites; the prognosis for these intermediate or high histo-prognostic grade lesions is much more somber.