Low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The clinical features of 102 patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas treated from 1972 to 1981 among the hospitals belonging to the JLRTG were retrospectively reviewed. According to the Rappaport classification, there were 29 cases of NPDL, 26 of NM and 47 of DWDL. The survival rate and relapsefree survival rate for all patients at 10 years were 49 % and 41 %, respectively. No obvious difference in survival rate was seen by histologic type, but patients with DWDL had a better relapse-free survival rate than those with NM (P < 0.01). This study also suggested that patients with stages I and II low grade lymphomas might be treated by irradiation alone, if they are staged properly. (author)