Immunohistochemical Classification and Clinical Evaluation of Nasal Malignant Lymphoma

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Polymorphic reticulosis (PMR), a type of lethal midline granuloma, has characteristics of necrosis, angiocentricity, and angiogenesis, which is also known as nasal T-cell lymphoma. In this study, we classified PMR and nasal lymphoma using immunohistochemical staining and investigated the clinical characteristics of nasal malignant lymphoma including survival rates with treatment modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients previously diagnosed with PMR or nasal lymphoma from May 1992 to April 1997 were included in this study. We performed immunohistochemical staining with CD3, CD56 and CD79a for classification and reviewed the patients' clinical characteristics and survival rates, retrospectively. RESULTS: Of twenty-six patients, twenty-five patients were classified as having angiocentric lymphoma and only one patient with B-cell lymphoma. Higher mortality rates were observed in patients receiving chemotherapy alone than in those receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy and in advanced stage. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and combined treatment could improve the survival rate of patients with nasal malignant lymphomas.