Prognostic factors of gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the adult.

Sixteen patients, seven men and nine women, with a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach (NHLS), have been managed in our institute during the past 15 years. Their median age was 68 years. Ten of them were classified, before treatment, at an early stage (I or II, Ann Arbor system) and six at an advanced one (III or IV). Ten patients were submitted to gastrectomy, and eight out of them had an adjuvant postoperative treatment (radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy). The remaining six patients were treated conservatively by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Two patients that were followed less than 24 months were excluded from further study. In the remaining 14 patients, the 5-year actuarial and age-corrected survival rates were 42% +/- 28 and 53% +/- 35, respectively. In the gastrectomy subgroup, the corresponding rates were 77% +/- 22 and 93% +/- 24. The later ameliorated results also, reflect the effect of an earlier stage. The most important prognostic factors appeared to be the stage and the histologic type. Old age and female sex seem to predispose to a better outcome, but they are not independent prognostic factors. Finally, a bad nutritional status, at presentation, seems an ominous prognostic sign.