Results of Radiotherapy in 144 Cases of Lymphosarcoma and Reticulum Cell Sarcoma with Primary Onset in the Pharynx

Abstract

351 patients with lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma (104 and 247 respectively) were given radiotherapy at the National Cancer Institute and at the Institute of Radiology, University of Milan between 1950 and 1961. 144 patients had primary onset in Waldeyer's ring (34 lmphosarcomas and 120 reticulum cell sarcomas). The high incidence of primary involvement of Waldeyer's ring in our case material, especially in reticulum cell sarcoma (48.5%), is definitely higher than usually reported in the literature and hence the interest of our study from the epidemiological, prognostic as well as therapeutic point of wiew. The sites more frequently involved were the nasopharynx and the pharyngeal tonsil. In the majority of cases the disease was locally advanced; in about 80% of cases the cervical or distant lymph nodes were involved. The results of our study represented in a series of graphs showing the actuarial survivals demonstrate that there is practically no significant difference between lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma. The overall survival was 38.9, 32.5, and 23.3% after 3, 5 and 10 years respectively from the beginning of treatment with a median survival of 18 months. Considering the tissue-dose administered there is a clear difference in survival time between the group of patients adequately and inadequately treated (42% and 18% respectively at 5 years). Finally no significant differences in terms of overall survival were observed in reticulum cell sarcoma with primary onset in Waldeyer's ring and in lymph nodes and spleen.