Clinico-epidemiological and treatment of gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Gastrointestinal NHL represented 38% of all extranodal cases. The gastrointestinal tract was the most common extranodal site if the Waldeyer's ring NHL are excluded. 52% of pediatric extranodal cases occurred in the GIT. Opposed to 24% of adult ones. The small intestine was the commonest primary GIT. Site [50%] with a more proximal loops affection. Forty-one cases were classified according to the International Working Formulation, only three cases were of low grade histology and none of them occurred in the pediatric group. Thirty-nine patients were avaluable for immediate assessment with complete remission of 46.2% and 33.3% had no response. Twenty-four cases were avaluable for more than 12 months follow-up or died from the disease during this period. Eleven of them achieved complete remission with a median survival of 32 months versus 11.5 and 5 months for partial and non responders, respectively. While, the age and the clinical stages were the statistically significant prognostic factors, the primary site and the treatment policy may also influence the prognosis. The addition of methotrexate in pediatric patients improved the prognosis significantly