LOW-GRADE NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA IN NORTHERN NORWAY - TREATMENT, OUTCOME, AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS

Aim: All low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LG-NHL) patients diagnosed and/or treated at our institution over a 10 year period were investiga ted with regard to treatment outcome and possible pre-treatment progno stic factors. Patients and methods: During the period 1986-1995, 169 c onsecutively registered patients with LG-NHL were retrospectively anal ysed with regard to personal, treatment and disease- specific characte ristics. The median follow-up time was 52 months (5-132 months). All p atients were diagnosed histologically according to the Kiel classifica tion system. Median age was 60 years (range 27-87 years), and the male :female ratio was 1.05: 1. Results: The overall response rate was 77%, of which 66% were complete response (CR) and 11% partial response (PR ). 5- and 10-year overall survival were 72% and 47%, respectively, and median overall survival was 8.3 years. 10-year overall survival for s tage I, II, III, and IV were 86%, 65%, 33%, and 29%, respectively. For follicular lymphoma, 10-year survival was 52% and median survival 12. 5 years. In univariate analysis, the following pre-treatment factors i ndicated a poor prognosis: advanced stage, general symptoms, bone marr ow infiltration, pool performance status, tumour greater than or equal to 6 cm, low serum albumin anaemia, and LDH greater than or equal to 540 U/l. In multivariate analysis, stage, performance status, tumour s ize, and anaemia were Sound to be independent prognostic factors for o verall survival. Conclusions The treatment strategy has proved success ful for most patients with localised disease. Independent prognostic i ndicators for survival as stage, performance status, tumour size, and anaemia may be useful guides in deciding when and how to treat.