ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Otorinolaringologia 1998 December;48(4):171-5

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas of the Waldeyer ring. Experience of the ent Departments of Ferrara-Sassari in the years 1980-1993

Pastore A., Meloni F.*, Stomeo F.*, Aimoni C., Bozzo C.*, Frasconi P. C.

Università degli Studi - Ferrara Istituto di Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica * Università degli Studi - Sassari Istituto di Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica

Background. The knowledge of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) occurring within Waldeyer ring has hitherto received a relatively scarce contribute from the ENT specialist, in contrast either with the high percentage (30-50%) of extra-nodal findings of NHL with primary localisation in the head and neck nodes, or with the fact that over 50% of the whole lymphoreticular system is represented in areas pertaining to the otolaryngologist; actually, the onset of the disease very often involves head and neck compartments.
Methods. A retrospective analysis of all NHL cases involving Waldeyer ring, observed in the ENT Departments of Ferrara and Sassari between 1980-1993 has been carried out. In this series of 63 patients, aged between 4-88, the site of the disease, clinic stadiation and degree of malignancy at the time of the diagnosis have been examined; 51 patients have been treated and followed-up.
Results. Some unexpected and interesting data have been observed, such as the high percentage of patients who did not undergo any kind of treatment after the admission to the ENT Departments, and the remarkable number of patients never arrived to the structures who they had been sent to, and therefore lost to follow-up.
Polichemiotherapy alone or in association with radiotherapy has represented the treatment of choice in almost every case, while the most relevant prognostic factor in terms of life expectation seemed to be the clinical stage of the disease.
Conclusions. On the basis of personal experience, it is suggested a more active role by the ENT specialist in the management of patients with NHL of head and neck region wich would provide either an early intervention, or a better cooperation between the specialist branches interested in of the NHL, and therefore improving the quality of the treatment of this disease.