Malignant lymphoma I. The histology and staging of 473 patients at the national cancer institute

Abstract

A retrospective review was performed of 473 consecutive patients with malignant lymphoma referred to the National Cancer Institute. All patients had their clinical and pathologic material reviewed and where necessary reclassified. Using a modification of the Rappaport system, 180 (38.1%) patients had a nodular lymphoma, 293 (61.9%) had a diffuse lymphoma. Nodular lymphoma patients usually presented with lymphadenopathy; diffuse lymphoma patients often presented with extranodal disease, particularly those patients with poorly differentiated lymphocytic, ‘histiocytic’, and Burkitt's lymphoma. Median age for all patients was 46 years, but was lower for diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic, diffuse undifferentiated, and Burkitt's lymphoma patients. Women were more likely to have a nodular rather than diffuse lymphoma, P < 0.05. Analyzed by clinical staging, most nodular lymphoma patients had CS III (66.1%) disease, while most diffuse lymphoma patients had either CS III (31.1%) or CS IV (38.9%) disease. Analyzed by pathologic staging, most nodular lymphoma patients had PS III (34.8%) or PS IV (49.4%) disease, most diffuse lymphoma patients had PS IV (56.3%) disease. Only 7% of all lymphoma patients had PS I disease, only 14.9% were PS II. Systemic symptoms were more likely to be found in diffuse lymphoma and/or advanced stage patients.

Full dose chemotherapy in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a feasibility study using a mitoxantrone containing regimen

“…In these studies a high complete response rate is associated with improved survival. The toxicity of these regimens is, however, considerable and a significant number of elderly patients may not complete the required number of chemotherapy courses (Connors, 1988), due to a poor performance status and/or considerable therapy-related morbidity (Anderson et al, 1982;Goh & Williams, 1983;Armitage & Potter, 1984;Mead et al, 1984;O'Connell et al, 1986). Several studies have found a poorer prognosis of unfavourable NHL in elderly patients when compared to their younger counterparts (Jagannath et al, 1985;Solal-Celigny et al, 1987;Fisher et al, 1987;Dixon et al, 1986).…”

Primary Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas of the Uterus and Uterine Cervix

“…Systemic complaints are common in lymphoma patients, and up to 40 percent of patients with NHL present with fever, weight loss, or night sweats (i.e. B symptoms) [22]. The clinical examination is often focused on detection of potentially involved lymphoid sites; palpable adenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly and the findings of these symptoms are important in determining prognosis [23].…”

Multiple Burkit's small bowel lymphoma complicated by acute intestinal obstruction (a clinical case report and review of publications)

“…The clinical symptoms are various and non-typical. These include: abdominal pain of various character and intensity, vomit, inexplicable weight loss (approximately 39 % of all the patients), torpidity, apathy, permanent fatigue, night perspiration, subfertility, sporadical gastrointestinal bleeding (Anderson and Chabner, 1982). The combination of the above mentioned symptoms is reported in 10-40% of the cases.…”