Introduction: About 5 - 10 % of all Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomas (NHL) present within the major salivary glands. Two etio-pathologically different groups, the (extranodal)-parenchymal NHL and NHL of intra- or periglandular lymphnodes (nodal lymphomas) have to be distinguished. It was the aim of this study to evaluate the clinical presentation, therapy and biological behaviour of these etiopathologically different lymphoma-groups.
Material and method: In a retrospective study, therapy and course of disease of 26 patients with a NHL of the major salivary glands were examined (diagnosis and treatment between 1988 and 1996).
Results: Staging results in the group of parenchymal lymphoma always showed the disease limited to the effected gland, whereas nodal NHL presented with a stadium II to IV (Ann-Arbor) at time of diagnosis. Local recurrencies were five times higher in nodal NHL compared to parenchymal NHL. In only one case (7.7 %) of the patients with parenchymal NHL, dissemination was observed. In the group of nodal NHL, a dissemination was observed in 6 patients (46.2 %). 7 of 13 patients (53.8 %) with a nodal NHL died due to lymphoma dissemination, compared to one patient (7.7 %) with a parenchymal NHL.
Conclusion: Based on the presented data, the histopathological diagnosis, under special recognition of the particular lymphoma-pathogenesis, constitutes an important prognostic factor in patients with NHL of the major salivary glands.