Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. I. Clinico-biological features in a series of 98 patients
Tomás, J.F.; San Miguel, J.F.; Martín, M.J.; Martínez, R.; Moraleda, J.M.; González, M.; Cañizo, M.C.; Ojeda, E.; Ramos, F.; Flores, T.
Sangre 33(5): 361-366
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-4355 PMID: 3247617 Document Number: 317921
The clinicobiological characteristics of a series of 98 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), classified in accordance to the "International Working Formulation" and followed up in a unique hospital, are presented. Forty per cent of the cases were low grade lymphomas, those of intermediate and high grade showing similar distributions. Males were slightly predominant, and the median age in the series was 58 years, although the lymphoblastic and small non-cleaved cell variants had higher incidence in the first three decades of life. Lymphnode enlargement was the commonest sign at onset in the series, and 54% of the patients had systemic symptoms, with no differences between the histological groups. Extranodol involvement was present in 53% of the cases, digestive tract being the most frequently involved site (26.7%). At diagnosis, 70.4% of the patients were in stage IV, and anaemia was more frequent amongst the low-grade lymphomas. Bone marrow involvement was seen in 57% of the cases, the nodular pattern being the commonest, whereas the low-grade lymphomas were the most frequently affected in this regard. LDH over 300 IU/L was found in one third of the patients, and in 44% of the low-grade NHL the IgA levels were below 120 mg/dL. Differenet therapeutical regimens were administered, complete remission being achieved in 42% of the cases with a median survival of 34.5 months for the whole series.