A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT OUTCOME IN 106 CASES OF LOCALIZED GASTRIC NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMAS

197 cases of gastric lymphoma were reported to a population-based Dani sh registry of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. 106 of these cases were locali zed, representing stages IE and II(1)E, and were analyzed retrospectiv ely, using Cox regression analysis, 67 had surgical resection, 51 chem otherapy, and 55 radiotherapy, or combinations thereof. No type of tre atment showed any superiority as regards survival (p = 0.13). Overall 5-year survival was 67%. The pretherapeutic presence of fever or S-LDH -elevation had a far more significant influence on survival than histo logy or any of the treatments or treatment combinations. Surgical rese ction was associated with a significantly higher risk of late complica tions than radiotherapy, suggesting that radiotherapy may be preferabl e to surgery as the primary treatment in localized gastric lymphoma. I t could not be determined from the available data whether the addition of chemotherapy to the primary treatment provides any survival benefi t.