OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic value of the size of primary tumor (T staging) and international prognostic index (IPI) for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the tonsil, and to recommend the treatment strategy for early stage patients.

METHODS306 patients with untreated NHL of the tonsil were reviewed. According to Ann Arbor staging classification, 35 patients had stage I, 178 stage II, 49 stage III and 44 stage IV disease. According to 1997' AJCC staging system, 29 patients had T1, 142 T2, 117 T3 and 18 T4 disease. Twelve stage I patients were given radiotherapy alone and 23 stage II patients were given combined modality therapy (CMT). For patients with stage II lesion, 57 were given radiotherapy alone, 2 chemotherapy alone and 119 CMT. Chemotherapy was the main treatment in patients with stage III or IV lesions.

RESULTSThe 5-year cancer specific survival (CSS) was 74% for patients with T(1), 59% for T(2), 56% for T(3) and 26% for T(4), respectively (P = 0.000). The 5-year CSS was 70% for patients with 0 risk factor, 49% for 1 risk factor, 25% for 2 or 3 risk factor, respectively (P = 0.000). CMT significantly improved disease free survival (DFS) from 46% (radiotherapy alone) to 60% (CMT) for stage II patients (P = 0.046). Multivariate analysis showed that performance status, Ann Arbor staging, T staging, B symptom, and IPI were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONThe T staging of the primary tumor and IPI are the important prognostic factors of patients with NHL of the tonsil. Combined modality therapy significantly improves the disease free survival of stage II patients.