PRIMARY SPINAL EPIDURAL NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS IN CHILDHOOD - A REVIEW OF 6 CASES

We report a retrospective study regarding 6 children with primary epid ural non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and analyse the facors influencing progno sis with emphasis on treatment. Four patients were females and 2 males . The neurological condition of patients was assessed pre- and postope ratively according to Shaw's classification for neurological disabilit y. All patients were submitted to surgery, radiotherapy and chemothera py. Histologically, the tumour proved to be a high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in all cases. At follow-up, all patients are alive after a m edian interval of 52 months (range 24-72 months). This study showed th at the out-come of patients depends on the gravity of pre-operative de ficits whereas the survival is influenced by the type of treatment.