A comparative analysis of lymphomas involving Waldeyer's ring and the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

The two major extranodal sites for malignant lymphoma of the head and neck are Waldeyer's ring and the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The clinical manifestations, treatment, and survival results are presented for 137 patients with primary lymphoma of Waldeyer's ring and 38 patients with primary lymphoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The similarities of and differences between the two sites are discussed and compared to their more common counterparts the carcinomas. The results of this study indicate that the TNMAJCC method of staging Ann Arbor stage IE and IIE non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a reliable prognostic indicator for these sites and should be considered when determining treatment.