Favorable outcomes of radiotherapy for early-stage mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) for early-stage mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.Materials and methodsPatients with stage ΙE (n = 48) and stage ПE (n = 2) MALT lymphoma treated with RT were reviewed. The primary tumor originated in the stomach in 20 patients, in the orbit in 9 patients, in the conjunctiva or eyelid and the parotid glands in 6 patients each, and 9 patients in the others. The median total RT dose was 32 Gy (range, 25.6–50 Gy). The median follow-up time was 50 months.ResultsAlthough disease did not recur in the RT field in any patient regardless of the total dose, disease recurred outside the RT field in the seven patients. As all recurrences were localized, salvage RT was performed for each recurrence and achieved complete response without recurrence in the field. The 5-year overall survival, local control, and progression-free survival rates were 96.6%, 100%, and 82.2%, respectively.ConclusionsA total dose of 25–30 Gy is appropriate for local control of MALT lymphoma. RT is also an effective salvage therapy in cases of localized recurrence.