NASAL AND NASOPHARYNGEAL ANGIOCENTRIC T-CELL LYMPHOMAS

Thirty patients (24 men and 6 women) with a median age of 44.5 years w ho had angiocentric T-cell lymphoma were studied, The neoplastic cells in each had a T-cell phenotype, Epstein-Barr virus RNA was detected i n the neoplastic cells in 29 of 30 patients. The most common presentin g symptom was nasal obstruction followed by purulent rhinorrhea. Patie nts with early presentation had only a friable nasal or nasopharyngeal mucosa; late clinical signs included septal perforation in 40%. Twent y-one of 30 patients received radiation therapy as initial treatment; 22 of 30 patients achieved a complete remission, Fifteen patients rela psed: 10 with local recurrence and 5 with systemic disease. In long-te rm follow-up, 10 patients were alive and disease free, 6 patients died of unrelated causes, and 12 patients died of disease.