Surgery and chemotherapy in the treatment of gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Abstract

We have retrospectively examined 35 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with gastric involvement at the onset. All patients have completed induction therapy at the time of this report. Histologic specimens have been classified according to the Working Formulation. Patients have undergone surgery and/or chemotherapy. Twenty out of 22 patients with stage I or II disease had surgery. Seventeen out of 20 gastrectomized patients achieved complete remission (11 with stage I and 6 with stage II): Fifteen of these are in their first complete remission with median follow-up of 24 months (range 8-68). Three patients with stage IV had surgery, two of which achieved CR. These data confirm that combined therapy is useful in gastric NHL presenting with stage I and II; no conclusions can be drawn regarding disseminated disease.