Gastrointestinal lymphoma. A case for primary surgical resection
M. S. Talamonti, L. G. Dawes, R. J. Joehl and D. L. Nahrwold
Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
The cases of 42 consecutive patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma
were reviewed to compare the risks and outcomes of different primary
treatment modalities. Among patients with localized disease (stages I and
II), 12 underwent complete tumor resection and 6 underwent radiation
therapy; 5-year survival was 82% and 50%, respectively. Among patients with
disseminated disease (stages III and IV), 6 underwent resection of the
primary tumor followed by chemotherapy and 18 were treated with radiation
and chemotherapy; 5-year survival was 81% and 6%, respectively. Five
patients who did not undergo surgical resection before radiation therapy or
chemotherapy developed severe life-threatening complications from their
primary tumor. Surgical resection before the administration of other
therapy should be performed when the patient is considered to be a surgical
candidate and resection of the primary tumor is deemed feasible.
