Nonepithelial tumors of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx: a clinicopathologic study. X. Malignant lymphomas

Abstract

In our series of 256 nonepithelial tumors involving the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx, 21 were apparently primary malignant lymphomas, including 17 ordinary lymphomas and 4 cases of "midline malignant reticulosis." Of the 15 patients who had ordinary lymphomas and had adequate follow-up, 8 died of lymphoma, 4 were living with disseminated disease, 1 died of other causes with persistent lymphoma and only 2 (13%) had no evidence of recurrence at 8 and 9 years after diagnosis. The tumor was controlled in its primary site by radiotherapy in 13 of 14 patients; however, all but 2 of these patients eventually developed disseminated disease. Of the 3 patients who had midline malignant reticulosis (MMR) and had adequate follow-up, all died of disease. MMR represents an unusual variant of malignant lymphoma and often produces the clinical picture of lethal midline granuloma.