PRIMARY NON-HODGKIN-LYMPHOMA OF THE SINONASAL CAVITIES - CORRELATION OF CT EVALUATION WITH CLINICAL OUTCOME

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively the primary site of origin of si nonasal lymphomas with computed tomography (CT) and correlate the CT f indings with histologic phenotype and clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 24 patients with stage I and II non-Hodgkin lymphomas of t he sinonasal cavities, the CT appearances and clinical data were revie wed retrospectively. RESULTS: The sites of primary tumor determined at CT were the nasal cavity in 13 patients, the ethmoidal sinus in three patients, and the maxillary sinus in eight patients. B-cell lymphomas were found mainly in the maxillary sinus, while T-cell lymphomas were found in the nasal cavity and ethmoidal sinus (P < .005). The 5-year survival rates in relation to the primary site of the tumor were 64% f or the nasal cavity, 50% for the ethmoidal sinus, and 100% for the max illary sinus (P = .26). CONCLUSION: Patients with B-cell primary lymph oma of the maxillary sinus tended to have a good prognosis in contrast to those with T-cell lymphomas that originated from midline structure s. The primary site determined at CT appears to be correlated with the histologic phenotype and clinical outcome.