The aim of the present investigation was to describe non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the head and neck region, with or without extranodal location, diagnosed in a regional department of otolaryngology in 1993 _ 97.
Material and methods.
Patients were identified by the Cancer Registry of Norway. Clinical data were obtained from patient files. Beside visible tumour the main reason for referal was pasient complaints of symptoms from upper respiratory or oropharyngeal tract. Biopsy specimens were reevaluated with regard to degree of malignancy and related clinical staging and topographic localization of the lymphoma.
Results.
121 patients with lymphomas from Vest-Agder County (155,000 inhabitants) were identified. In 21 of these patients (17 %) the lymphoma was sited in the head and neck region; in 12 items extranodally located. Seven of the lymphomas with extranodal sites were found in pallatine tonsils and Waldeyer’s ring. Thirteen of the 21 patients presented with a visible tumour.
Interpretation.
Less than 20 % of all recently discovered non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas were located to the head and neck. Early diagnosis depends on a thorough otolaryngological examination and biopsies from suspected lesions.
Formålet med undersøkelsen var å studere non-Hodgkins lymfom i hode-hals-området hos pasienter i Vest-Agder fylke i 1993 – 97, diagnostisert ved Vest-Agder sykehus.
Materiale og metode.
Det uttatte biopsimaterialet ble reanalysert med henblikk på histopatologisk gradering av malignitet og relatert til klinisk stadieinndeling og lokalisasjon.
Resultater.
121 pasienter med non-Hodgkins lymfom fra fylket ble meldt til Kreftregisteret i perioden. 21 pasienter (17 %) med symptomer og synlig tumor i hode-hals-regionen ble primært henvist til Øre-nese-hals-avdelingen og fikk diagnosen non-Hodgkins lymfom. 12 av tumorene var lokalisert ekstranodalt, sju av disse til ganetonsiller og Waldeyers ring. Per 1.1. 2001 var ni av de 21 pasientene døde.
Fortolkning.
Tidlig diagnose av lymfom forutsetter etablerte henvisningsrutiner og en fungerende spesialisthelsetjeneste.