Extra-nodal B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the head and neck: a study of 68 cases.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to describe the distinctive characteristics of extra-nodal B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (BNHLs) located in the head and neck in a series of patients, to discuss patient survival, and to compare the oral versus the non-oral locations of the extra-nodal BNHLs of the head and neck. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 68 patients with BNHL of the head and neck. We analyzed the clinical and survival characteristics. Additionally, we performed Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses to determine the influence of the different factors on survival. RESULTS: This study included 68 non-nodal lymphomas; 30 lymphomas (31.9%) were located intraorally, with the gingiva as the most frequent location. The oral lymphomas in stages 1 and 2 showed a prevalence of 60% (18/30). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the stage of disease and the oral versus non-oral extranodal lymphomas were significant prognostic factors (p<0.05). However, the multivariate Cox analysis indicated that only complete remission and oral versus non-oral location were significant prognostic factors (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The gingiva was the most common location of the intraoral lymphomas. Complete remission and non-oral location were the only significant survival factors in the multivariate Cox regression analysis.