Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults: clinicopathological and survival characteristics

A rare case of primary cardiac diffuse large B-cell lymphoma imaged with 18F-FDG PET/CT: a case report and literature review

Background

One of the exceptionally rare forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL). The principal clinical manifestation in patients with PCL involves cardiac symptoms resulting from myocardial infiltration by lymphoma, including arrhythmias, heart failure, and chest pain. 18F-FDG PET/CT serves as a reliable and indispensable imaging modality for assessing clinically staging NHL.

Case report

We present a rare case involving a 72-year-old woman diagnosed with primary intracardiac diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. For further staging, the patient underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT, revealing multiple nodular soft tissue density lesions in the heart and pericardium exhibiting increased FDG metabolism (SUVmax = 12.1). The supradiaphragmatic and infradiaphragmatic segments of the inferior vena cava exhibited irregular morphology with localized nodular changes and increased FDG metabolism in the surrounding area (SUVmax = 9.7). Additionally, multiple enlarged lymph nodes were identified in the left axilla, mediastinum, and adjacent to the abdominal aorta, displaying heterogeneous FDG uptake with an SUVmax of 9.3, indicating lymphoma involvement. The above imaging findings suggested that the mass was a PCL. Hence, the patient underwent a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy using R-CDOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, liposomal doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Following two courses of treatment within a span of 2 months, there was a partial remission observed in the cardiac lymphoma and the enlarged lymph nodes.

Conclusion

The case elucidated in this report contributes to an enhanced understanding of the disease for clinicians, with 18F-FDG PET/CT providing comprehensive insights into the extent of cardiac involvement, as well as the engagement of extracardiac organs and pathologic lymph nodes. The 18F-FDG PET/CT examination not only visually delineates the lesion's location and extent but also serves as a cornerstone for clinical tumor staging, offering valuable support for treatment monitoring and subsequent follow-up.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma - Nodal and Extranodal: 20-Year Comparative Mortality, Survival & Biologic Behavior Analysis by Age, Sex, Race, Stage, Cell Morphology/Histology, Cohort Entry Time-Period and Disease Duration: A Systematic Review of 384,651 Total NHL Cases Including 261,144 Nodal and 123,507 Extranodal Cases for Diagnosis Years 1975-2016: (SEER*Stat 8.3.6)

During the past 5 decades, there have been reports of increases in the incidence and mortality rates of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the United States and globally. The ability to address the epidemiologic diversity, prognosis and treatment of NHL depends on the use of an accurate and consistent classification system. Historically, uniform treatment for NHL has been hampered by the lack of a systematic taxonomy of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Before 1982, there were 6 competing classification schemes with contending terminologies for NHL: the Rappaport, Lukes-Collins, Kiel, World Health Organization, British, and Dorfman systems without consensus as to which system is most satisfactory regarding clinical relevance, scientific accuracy and reproducibility and presenting a difficult task for abstractors of incidence information. In 1982, the National Cancer Institute sponsored a workshop1 that developed a working formulation designed to: 1) provide clinicians with prognostic information for the various types of NHLs, and 2) provide a common language that might be used to compare clinical trials from various treatment centers around the world. Studies imply that prognosis is dependent on tumor stage and histology rather than the primary localization per se.2 This study utilizes the National Cancer Institute PDQ adaptation of the World Health Organization's (WHO) updated REAL (Revised European American Lymphoma) classification3 of lymphoproliferative diseases, and the SEER*Stat 8.3.6 database (released Aug 8, 2019) for diagnosis years 1975-2016. In this article, we make use of 40 years of data to examine patterns of incidence, survival and mortality, and selected cell bio-behavioral characteristics of NHL in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

-To update trends in incidence and prevalence in the United States of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, examine, compare and contrast short and long-term patterns of survival and mortality, and consider the outcome impacts of anatomic location of NHL nodal and extranodal subdivisions, utilizing selected ICD-O-3 histologic oncotypes stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, stage, cell behavioral morphology and histologic typology, cohort entry time-period and disease duration, employing the statistical database of the National Cancer Institute SEER*Stat 8.3.6 program for diagnosis years 1975-2016.4 Methods.- A retrospective, population-based cohort study using nationally representative data from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program to evaluate 384,651 NHL cases for diagnosis years 1975-2016 comparing multiple variables of age, sex, race, stage, cell behavioral morphology, cohort entry time-period, disease duration and histologic oncotype. Relative survival statistics were analyzed in two cohorts: 1975-1995 and 1996-2016. Survival statistics were derived from SEER*Stat Database: Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, November 2018 Submission (1975-2016) released April 2019, based on the November 2018 submission.

RESULTS

- Incidence rates, relative frequency distributions, survival and mortality by age, sex, stage and cell behavioral morphology, of adult nodal (N) and extranodal (EN) NHL in 2 entrant time-periods as recorded in the SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute for diagnosis years 1975-2016 (SEER Stat 8.3.6) are summarized. Shifts in trends over time are identified, and the findings are correlated with prognosis, including short and long-term observed (actual), expected and relative survival, median observed and relative survival, mortality rates and excess death rates per 1000 people.

CONCLUSIONS

- Trends in SEER incidence, prevalence, survival and mortality by age, sex, race, stage, cell behavioral morphology, cohort entry time-period, relative frequency and percent distribution, were examined to provide a current epidemiologic and medical-actuarial risk assessment framework for nodal (N) and extranodal (EN) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the 1975-2016 timeframe.

Atypical location of primary cardiac lymphoma in the left heart with atypical clinical presentation: A case report and literature review

Background

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare and aggressive cardiac tumor with very poor prognosis that occurs mostly in the right cardiac cavity. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve its prognosis. In the present report, we describe the diagnosis and treatment of a primary cardiac diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PC-DLBCL) with atypical location and clinical presentation. Additionally, a literature review was conducted to summarize the current knowledge of the disease.

Case Presentation

A 71-year-old man visited his local hospital because of syncope, recurrent chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and profuse sweating for more than 20 days. Chest radiography revealed a mediastinal mass. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) showed multiple enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed a cardiac mass in the posterior-inferior wall of the left atrium. He was then transferred to our hospital for positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) which showed active uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose both in the cardiac mass and in the multiple enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Biopsy of the enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes was carried out by using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) technique, and pathological examination confirmed the subtype of PC-DLBCL, Stage IV, NCCN IPI 3. Therefore, the patient received a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy with R-CDOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, liposome doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). After four courses of treatment in 4 months, the cardiac lymphoma and the enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes achieved complete remission with mild side effects of the chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis and a precise choice of chemotherapy and immunotherapy based on cardiac imaging and pathological examination may improve the prognosis of PC-DLBCL in an atypical location.

Primary extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era: a single center, retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the clinical characteristics and therapeutic response of Chinese patients with primary extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma DLBCL (PE-DLBCL).

METHODS

We analysed the clinical features and outcomes of 197 patients who were newly diagnosed with PE-DLBCL between January 2015 and December 2020.

RESULTS

The gastrointestinal tract showed the highest rate of involvement (34%), followed by the central nervous system (CNS) and intraocular system (31.5%). The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 81% for the entire group and 79% for those with CNS and vitreoretinal involvement. Ann Arbour stage, lactate dehydrogenase level, International Prognostic Index > 2, and complete remission (CR) were significantly related to the survival of patients with PE-DLBCL. The lack of CR was the only independent adverse prognostic factor for OS.

CONCLUSION

The clinical outcomes of patients with PE-DLBCL at our centre were encouraging, especially for patients with CNS and vitreoretinal involvement.

Utility of F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography in Primary Thyroid Lymphoma

Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is an uncommon malignancy. The majority of PTLs are non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) is the state-of-the-art imaging in lymphoma and plays a pivotal role in staging, follow-up, and treatment decisions. There is good evidence that it performs well in a wide variety of nodal and extranodal lymphomas (ENL). However, the data are scarce on its usefulness in rare ENL. Herein, we describe four cases of PTLs and a brief review of the literature. FDG PET/CT was performed at baseline to assess the disease status and response to treatment. This case series highlights the varied appearance of PTL and response to treatment. It establishes the importance of FDG PET/CT in the personalized management of PTL.

Analysis and prediction of relative survival trends in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States using a model-based period analysis method

Background

Survival rates are usually used to evaluate the effect of cancer treatment and prevention. This study aims to analyze the 5-year relative survival of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in United States using population-based cancer registry data.

Methods

A period analysis was used to evaluate the improvement in long-term prognosis of patients with NHL from 2004 to 2018, and a generalized linear model was developed to predict the 5-year relative survival rates of patients during 2019–2023 based on data from the SEER database stratified by age, sex, race and subtype.

Results

In this study, relative survival improved for all NHL, although the extent of improvement varied by sex, age group and lymphoma subtype. Survival improvement was also noted for NHL subtypes, although the extent varied, with marginal-zone lymphoma having the highest 5-year relative survival rate (92.5%) followed by follicular lymphoma (91.6%) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (87.3%). Across all subtypes, survival rates were slightly higher in females than in males. Survival rates are lower in the elderly than in the young. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that black patients had lower NHL survival rates than white patients. Survival rates for NHL were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Patients with extra-nodal NHL had a higher survival rate than patients with nodal NHL.

Conclusion

Overall, patient survival rates for NHL gradually improved during 2004–2018. The trend continues with a survival rate of 75.2% for the period 2019–2023. Analysis by NHL subtype and subgroups indicating that etiology and risk factors may differ by subtype. Identification of population-specific prevention strategies and treatments for each subtype can be aided by understanding these variations.

Survival and epidemiologic trends of lymphomas in Saudi Arabia: A 10-year report from a tertiary care hospital

Background:

The current trends in lymphoma cases from Saudi Arabia and their long-term survival are unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the trends of lymphoma diagnoses and survival from a major tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

This retrospective study included all new cases of lymphoma diagnosed in adults (age ≥18 years) at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2008 to 2018, as identified from the Saudi Cancer Registry. Data on the demographics and clinical characteristics were collected, the survival outcomes were estimated, and multivariate analysis of the overall survival was calculated.

Results:

A total of 422 patients were included (median age: 46 years). The number new cases of lymphoma diagnosed variably increased over the study period: From 28 (7%) cases in 2009 to 48 (11%) in 2018. The most common lymphoma was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (175; 41%): and extranodal site was GI involvement (33.5%). In terms of survival, 79% were alive at the last follow-up. On multivariable analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) for patients aged ≥60 years was 3.44 (95% CI: 2–5.9; P = 0.0000069), adjusted for lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH) and disease stage. For advanced-stage disease and high LDH, the HR was 4.2 (95% CI: 1.5-11.8, P = 0.00637) and 0.5 (95% CI: 0.28-0.97; P = 0.04106), respectively.

Conclusions:

The lymphoma trend in the Saudi Arabian population showed variable increase in cases over the study period, with most patients presenting with advanced-stage disease and at a younger age. The overall survival was comparable with studies from Western countries.

The role of cardiac CT and MRI in the diagnosis and management of primary cardiac lymphoma: A comprehensive review

Primary cardiac tumors comprise a distinct category of disorders that result in significant cardiac complications. Primary cardiac lymphomas (PCLs) constitute the second most frequent primary malignancy involving the heart. Without treatment, survival may be limited to just a few months; however, a timely therapeutic schedule may prolong the five-year survival. Accordingly, robust diagnostic modalities are essential to improve prognosis. We herein review the literature available in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Google Scholar and Scopus databases. Our review demonstrated that cardiac computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) employ multiple advanced sequences for tumor characterization with or without a contrast agent. These methods assist not only in differentiating PCLs from other cardiac masses such as cardiac thrombi but also in defining the extent of PCLs and conducting a safe biopsy. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and CT imaging provide essential knowledge regarding PCLs and cardiotoxicity induced by therapeutic regimens. The application of these robust imaging modalities aids in the early diagnosis of PCLs, accelerates the initiation of the treatment program, and improves patient outcomes significantly. Also presented is our introduction into novel techniques and the feasibility of their use to diagnose and treat cardiac masses, particularly PCLs. It should be mentioned that the paramount role of FDG-PET was not the focus of this paper.

Differentiation of single lymphoma primary cells and normal B-cells based on their adhesion to mesenchymal stromal cells in optical tweezers

We have adapted a non-invasive method based on optical tweezers technology to differentiate between the normal B-cells and the B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) cells derived from clinical samples. Our approach bases on the nascent adhesion between an individual B-cell and a mesenchymal stromal cell. In this study, a single B-cell was trapped and optically seeded on a mesenchymal stromal cell and kept in a direct contact with it until a stable connection between the cells was formed in time scale. This approach allowed us to avoid the introduction of any exogenous beads or chemicals into the experimental setup which would have affected the cell-to-cell adhesion. Here, we have provided new evidence that aberrant adhesive properties found in transformed B-cells are related to malignant neoplasia. We have demonstrated that the mean time required for establishing adhesive interactions between an individual normal B-cell and a mesenchymal stromal cell was 26.7 ± 16.6 s, while for lymphoma cell it was 208.8 ± 102.3 s, p < 0.001. The contact time for adhesion to occur ranged from 5 to 90 s and from 60 to 480 s for normal B-cells and lymphoma cells, respectively. This method for optically controlled cell-to-cell adhesion in time scale is beneficial to the successful differentiation of pathological cells from normal B-cells within the fine needle aspiration biopsy of a clinical sample. Additionally, variations in time-dependent adhesion among subtypes of B-NHL, established here by the optical trapping, confirm earlier results pertaining to cell heterogeneity.

Extranodal diffuse large B cell lymphoma of maxillary sinus presenting as a palatal ulcer

A multitude of disease processes ranging from periodontitis to malignancies can lead to formation of solitary ulcer on the palate. Hence solitary ulcers of palate can often be a challenging one to diagnose. We report an interesting case of a diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the maxillary sinus which perforated the palatal bone and presented clinically as a palatal ulcer. Initially the lesion manifested as a small ill-defined swelling in the posterior palatal slope in relation to 24and25 which were mobile and hence was erroneously diagnosed as chronic periodontal abscess. This paper is intended to stress the relevance of including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of solitary palatal ulcers as it may be often misdiagnosed as more common reactive or inflammatory lesions.

Colorectal Lymphoma: A Review

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that primarily involves the colon is rare and should be distinguished from the more common systemic nodal lymphoma. It has unique clinical expectations and management consideration. Different histologic subtypes of NHL involve the colon, which varies in the clinical behavior and likelihood of obtaining durable remissions with treatment. This article will review the current understanding of the different histologic subtypes of primary colorectal lymphoma and propose management algorithms.

Gastrointestinal tract metastasis of mandibular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Not only diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a malignancy, but also is initially and orally diagnosed in early stages. However, it could be misdiagnosed with other oral pathologies. However yet, early diagnosis is still crucial for the prognosis, morbidity, and mortality in such cases. Additionally, whole-body scanning with positron emission tomography/computed tomography should be performed for diagnosis and treatment process.

Primary extra-nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A prognostic analysis of 141 patients

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of lymphoma. Approximately 40% of DBLCL originates from extra-nodal sites, but the diversity of clinical presentations and the genetic and molecular alterations indicate that extra-nodal DLBCLs may be distinct disease entities. The aim of the present study was to highlight the various aspects of primary extra-nodal DLBCL (PE-DLBCL) based on a single center cohort. The data from 141 patients with PE-DLBCL treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively evaluated. The primary extra-nodal sites involved were the gastrointestinal tract (n=42), central nervous system (CNS; n=38), breast (n=19), adrenal gland (n=15), female genital system (FGS; n=12), thyroid (n=8) and bone (n=7). The median overall survival rate was 28 months (range, 1–116). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an International Prognostic Index (IPI) ≤2 (P=0.049), complete remission (CR) achieved following first-line therapy (P=0.001) and chemotherapy combined with rituximab (P<0.001) were positive prognostic factors. Patients with DLBCL with primary adrenal gland or female genital system (FGS) involvement exhibited a significantly higher risk of CNS recurrence (P<0.05). Rituximab treatment may have reduced the likelihood of CNS recurrence (P=0.005), whereas prophylaxis with intrathecal injection alone was not sufficient for prevention (P>0.05). In conclusion, IPI >2 and the lack of a CR following first-line therapy were independent prognostic risk factors for PE-DLBCL. Patients with primary adrenal gland or FGS involvement exhibited a higher risk of CNS relapse. Rituximab had a positive impact on the survival of patients with PE-DLBCL, also reducing the likelihood of CNS relapse.

Cardiac non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: clinical characteristics and trends in survival

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes in cardiac non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 94 cases of NHL with biopsy-proven cardiac involvement in PubMed between 1990 and 2015.

RESULTS

Among cases with cardiac involvement, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most common histologic subtype (58%), followed by T-cell lymphoma (16%), Burkitt's lymphoma (9%), and small lymphocytic lymphoma (6%). Symptomatic heart failure was the most common clinical presentation (34%), and 20% of patients had no cardiac symptoms. Median survival was 3 months (range, 0-72) among all patients. Patients who presented with heart failure had inferior outcomes. Patients with primary, vs. secondary, cardiac involvement had a trend toward superior outcomes. Importantly, chemotherapy treatment was associated with a prolongation in median survival (18 vs. 1 month, HR 0.16, 95% CI, 0.47-0.54, P = 0.0003), and patients diagnosed in the chemo-immunotherapy era demonstrated a trend toward better outcomes. Median survival was not reached among patients with B-cell malignancies who were alive for 1 month after the diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Pathologic lymphomatous involvement of cardiac tissue should be considered in the evaluation of patients with NHL. Durable remissions can be achieved in B-cell NHL with cardiac involvement, and thus, therapy should be considered in such cases.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the mandible with periosteal reaction: a case report

This report describes a rare case of a 63-year-old man with a lymphoma in the right mandibular ramus with periosteal reaction. Computed tomography (CT) images showed a soft tissue density (28 × 48 × 32 mm) around the right mandibular foramen. Bone-mode CT images showed diffuse bone destruction of the right mandibular ramus. Moreover, a periosteal reaction was seen on the lingual cortical bone of the right mandibular ramus. Histopathologic examination found a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Extensive Extranodal Involvement of Rare Sites in Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma Detected on (18)F- FDG PET-CT: A Case Report

We present a case of a 23 year-old male treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) 8 years after achieving remission. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) was done, which revealed extensive extranodal involvement of bilateral atria, bilateral kidneys, ileo-caecal junction and left testis along with mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodal involvement. Renal and cardiac lesions were not detected by contrast-enhanced CT. Simultaneous lymphomatous involvement of rare sites such as heart, kidneys and testis in a single patient has not been reported before.

Head and neck extranodal lymphoma in a single institute: a 17-year retrospective analysis

The study's purposes are to identify patient characteristics, treatment response and survival rate, and to describe the important prognostic factors for our patients with extranodal head and neck lymphoma. Furthermore, no study has systemically discussed the overall figure of this disease in Taiwan and we analyzed our data on this topic. A retrospective review was performed for 86 patients with extranodal head and neck lymphoma, diagnosed in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, between 1990 and 2007. We evaluated the medical records and analyzed the possible factors affecting treatment outcomes, survival rate, and free-from-disease (FFD) survival rate. Forty-nine male and 37 female patients were included with a male:female ratio of 1.32:1. The most frequent histologic type was diffuse large B cell lymphoma, accounting for 41.9% of the total. The most common primary site involved with extranodal head and neck non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was a tonsil with 27 cases (31.4%). Stage, international prognostic index (IPI) score, B symptoms, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and lymph node status significantly affected treatment response. The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 68.0% and 57.8%, respectively. The FFD survival rate was 53.6% and 49.3% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Factors including stage, lymph node status, LDH level, and IPI score produced significant differences in both overall survival and FFD survival. Our analyzed information is similar to other previously presented studies. Stage, IPI score, B symptoms, LDH level, and neck nodal status can be used to evaluate the treatment outcomes. Neck nodal status and stage are the two significant prognostic factors for overall survival.

Imaging of extranodal lymphoma with PET/CT

Hodgkin disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) represent a spectrum of malignant neoplasms arising from the lymphoid system with an incidence of around 8% of all malignancies. Although they are generally known as tumors of lymph nodes, 25% to 40% of HD/NHL tumors, especially NHL, arise at extranodal sites along the gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, orbit, central and peripheral nervous system, thorax, bone, skin, breast, testis, thyroid, and genitourinary tract. Extranodal involvement is an important pretreatment prognostic factor for patients with lymphoma and its incidence has increased in the past 2 decades. Imaging plays an important role in the noninvasive pretreatment assessment of patients with extranodal lymphoma. This involvement can be subtle and may be overlooked during computed tomography (CT). Positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) has evolved into an important imaging tool for evaluation of lymphomas, facilitating the detection of affected extranodal sites even when CT shows subtle or no obvious lesions. Familiarity with extranodal manifestations and suggestive PET/CT features in different sites is important for accurate evaluation of lymphoma. This article reviews the extranodal PET/CT imaging findings regarding HD and NHL.

Hematological Evaluation of Primary Extra Nodal Versus Nodal NHL: A Study from North India

Primary extra nodal lymphomas (EN-NHL) are different from primary nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (N-NHL) and are comparatively less common. Hemogram findings and bone marrow involvement is less studied and very few reports are available in the literature. The present study is a retrospective analysis of bone marrow samples evaluated for staging of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The age, sex distribution, clinical features, and site of presentation, hemogram findings, pattern of bone marrow involvement and grade of reticulin fibrosis was noted. These findings were compared with the type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and prognostic information was determined. A total of 647 cases of NHL, which underwent bone marrow examination for staging, over a seven year period, were retrieved and analyzed for all hematological parameters. Prevalence of EN-NHL was 23.5% (152/647), while nodal NHL comprised 76.5% (495/647) of all NHL cases. 90.1% (137/152) cases of EN-NHL were adult patients, out of which 15.3% (21/137) cases showed bone marrow infiltration as compared to 89% (441/495) adult primary nodal NHL cases, of which 39% (175/441) showed bone marrow infiltration. 9.9% (15/152) cases of EN-NHL were pediatric patients, out of which 40% (6/15) showed bone marrow infiltration, while 10.9% (54/495) of nodal NHL cases were pediatric, of which 20.3% (11/54) showed bone marrow infiltration. Hemogram findings were not found useful in predicting bone marrow infiltration in both nodal as well as EN-NHL. 100% (6/6) of pediatric patients had high grade lymphoma as compared to 48% (9/21) of adult patients, showing bone marrow infiltration in EN-NHL group. Reticulin fibrosis also did not reveal relation with grading of NHL. Prognostically EN-NHL of stomach and central nervous system were found to be better than EN-NHL of other sites, as none of these cases showed bone marrow infiltration. EN-NHL can involve various sites and the prognosis depends upon the sites of disease as well as the type of NHL. Moreover, pediatric EN-NHL cases are likely to have poorer prognosis, due to increased risk of bone marrow involvement as compared to their counterparts having primary nodal NHL. Bone marrow infiltration at times cannot be assessed reliably from hemogram findings only and a bone marrow biopsy for staging is mandatory.

Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT Patterns of Extranodal Involvement in Patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Hodgkin's Disease

Lymphoma may originate in extranodal sites. Extranodal lymphoma may also be secondary to and accompany nodal disease. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) imaging has an essential role in the staging of lymphoma, in monitoring the response to therapy, and in detection of recurrence. The introduction of 18F-FDG PET/CT hybrid imaging allows for accurate localization of disease and may be specifically beneficial for the detection of unexpected extranodal sites of disease or exclusion of disease in the presence of nonspecific extranodal CT findings. Accurate staging and localization often dictate the appropriate treatment strategy in patients with lymphoma. Therefore, at any stage in the course of the disease, the potential presence of extranodal disease should be considered when interpreting 18F-FDG PET/CT studies in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the adenoids

Extramedullary plasmacytomas are extremely rarely diagnosed in children. We report two cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma detected coincidentally in the adenoidectomy specimens of children younger than 4 years. We show that these children are disease-free after local excision as the only treatment. Surgical treatment without anti-neoplastic therapy in pediatric plasma cell dyscrasias of the pharyngeal lymphoid tissue may be a sufficient curative therapy.

Multifocal Extranodal Non‐Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Clinicopathologic Study of 37 Cases in Greece, a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group Study

The purpose of this retrospective study was to illustrate the clinicopathological features of patients presenting with multifocal extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Among 810 patients with NHL, 37 cases (4.2%) were found to have multiple extranodal involvement (two or more sites). There were 24 men and 13 women, with a median age of 63 years. The majority of these cases (n = 26) had gastric or intestinal (GI) involvement with or without other extranodal sites. Lung along with another extranodal site was relatively common in the present series. Stratification of the 37 cases according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI) showed that 89% of the patients belonged to the high-risk groups. Diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounted for 62%, and mucosa-associated lymphoma tissue (MALT) lymphoma accounted for 27% of all cases. After induction treatment with anthracycline-based regimens, complete remission was achieved in 21 patients (57%), partial remission was achieved in six patients (16%), and seven patients (19%) had no response, while three patients (8%) were nonevaluable. In conclusion, multifocal extranodal NHL is a heterogeneous group of diseases. The majority of them arise at various sites in the GI tract. DLBCL was the most frequent histological subtype followed by MALT lymphoma. Risk group, as defined by the IPI, was predictive of survival.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in Greece according to the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. A retrospective analysis of 810 cases

The purpose of this retrospective study, the largest unselected series in our country, was to illustrate the clinicopathological features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lymphoid neoplasms. A retrospective analysis was conducted and clinical features of histological subtypes were established in 810 patients (age > or = 15 years) with NHL who were treated at 8 major centers representative of Greece. There were 435 males and 375 females 95% of them aged >30 years. B symptoms were present in 34% of the patients, while 45.3% had stages I-II and 54.6% had stages III-IV. LDH was increased in 37% of the patients. B cell lymphomas formed 88% of the cases whereas T cell lymphomas formed 12% of the total. Indolent lymphomas accounted for 31.1%, aggressive ones for 66.7% and very aggressive ones for 2.4% of all NHLs. Among indolent lymphomas extranodal ones (MALT B cell lymphoma) were the most common subset while follicular lymphoma grade I and II and small lymphocytic ones presented with equal frequency. Among the aggressive lymphomas diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) was the most common subtype; this entity along with large-cell immunoblastic lymphomas accounted for 45.2% of all B cell lymphomas. Among the T cell lymphomas, peripheral T cell lymphomas and anaplastic large cell lymphomas of the T/null-cell type were the most common subtypes. The most common extranodal presentation was the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Next in frequency were primary extranodal NHL of the head and neck region. MALT B cell lymphomas were found in almost half of the patients with GI tract NHL, whereas in all other extranodal places DLCL was the predominant histological subtype. The median survival for indolent and aggressive NHL was 123.5 and 55.5 months, respectively. This is the first report of a large series of malignant lymphomas in Greece using the WHO classification. It appears that there are no significant differences between NHL in Greece and other large series as far as clinical and extranodal presentation is concerned. The frequency of follicular lymphoma in the current study is comparable to that reported from Asian countries and mainland Europe, but lower than that of US and Northern European series. There were no important differences in the incidence of the remaining histological subtypes between Greece and other European countries.

Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL): the impact of alternative definitions tested in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre West population-based NHL registry

BACKGROUND

The definition of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a controversial issue, especially in patients where both nodal and extranodal sites are involved.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The impact of different definitions of primary extranodal NHL on incidence and prognosis is explored using data from a population-based NHL registry.

RESULTS

Using liberal criteria, 389 (34%) cases were classified as primary extranodal NHL. Overall survival (OS) rates of nodal and extranodal NHL patients defined this way were comparable; however, extranodal NHL patients had a better disease-free survival (DFS). When strict criteria were applied, 231 cases (20%) were classified as primary extranodal NHL. OS and DFS rates of extranodal NHL patients defined this way were superior to nodal NHL patients; however, the difference in OS was reversed after correction for differences in International Prognostic Index and malignancy grade.

CONCLUSION

This study illustrates the selection bias that is introduced when a strict definition of primary extranodal NHL, that excludes cases with disseminated disease, is used. Patients with primary extranodal NHL were found to have a superior DFS, irrespective of which definition of primary extranodal NHL was used.

Primary extranodal malignant lymphoma affecting the periodontium

BACKGROUND

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may arise in extranodal tissues within the head and neck region. These lesions may occur in the oral cavity, but rarely appear on the gingiva. Due to their malignant nature, rapid identification, diagnosis, and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are essential to patient survival.

METHODS

An unusual case of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is described. The small lesion arose on the gingiva and alveolar mucosa. Upon excision, the tissue was submitted for microscopic examination, with the expectation that the lesion would be benign and excision would constitute the entirety of treatment. However, a diagnosis of primary extranodal large B-cell lymphoma was returned.

RESULTS

In addition to excision of the lesion, the patient underwent a complete work-up to rule out other systemic lesions. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy were performed. The patient has remained healthy, without recurrence of lymphoma for 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This case reinforces the importance of submitting excised tissues for microscopic examination even when the lesion appears totally benign. In addition, it highlights the need for complete excision of suspected lesions, with generous borders of normal tissue. With current periodontal plastic surgical techniques, most defects remaining after soft tissue biopsy can be managed with good esthetic results.

Waldeyer's ring lymphomas: a clinical study from the Comprehensive Cancer Center West population based NHL registry

It is debated whether non-Hodgkin's lymphomas originating in Waldeyer's ring (WR NHL) behave as NHL originating in lymph nodes or share common features with extranodal lymphomas originating in mucosa associated lymphatic tissue (MALT). We analyzed data from a population based NHL registry on patterns of dissemination at diagnosis, response to treatment, patterns of failure and survival of 77 primary Waldeyer's ring Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (WR NHL) patents. Data of completely staged patients with diffuse large cell lymphomas (DLCL) originating in WR (n=44) were compared with those of patients retrieved from the same registry with DLCL originating in lymph nodes or stomach (the latter as prototype of a lymphoma originating in MALT). Primary WR NHL had favorable risk scores according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI), and responded well to therapy: a complete response (CR) rate of 74% was observed. Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were poor, however (47% and 31% at 10 years, respectively). The comparison of DLCL originating in WR, lymph nodes and stomach revealed that WR and gastric NHL patients shared a restricted pattern of dissemination at diagnosis, in contrast to patients with DLCL originating in lymph nodes. Although not all patients were completely restaged at relapse, analysis of patterns of failure suggested that the gastro-intestinal tract is a preferential site for recurrences, both for WR and gastric DLCL patients. CR rates of WR, nodal and gastric DLCL patients were 77%, 55% and 55% respectively (P=0.03), OS of the three patient subgroups did not differ (33%, 27% and 37% at 10 years). DFS of WR DLCL patients was similar to nodal DLCL patients but inferior to gastric DLCL patients (47%, 48% and 73% at 10 years respectively, P=0.006). After Cox regression analysis the relative relapse risk for patients with WR DLCL when compared to patients with DLCL originating in lymph nodes was 2.01 (C.I. 0.99-4.01, P=0.05), and 3.46 (C.I. 1.32-9.00, P=0.01) when compared to patients with gastric DLCL. The clinical picture of primary WR NHL emerging from this population based study is in agreement with data form hospital based studies. In the comparison of WR DLCL, nodal DLCL and gastric DLCL, the observed patterns of dissemination suggest similarities between WR DLCL and gastric DLCL. The frequent relapses after CR observed for WR DLCL patients, however, indicate that these lymphomas clinically behave as nodal DLCL, and should be treated accordingly.

Localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of Waldeyer's ring: clinical features, management, and prognosis of 130 adult patients

BACKGROUND

Waldeyer's ring (WR) is the primary site of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) involvement in approximately 5% to 10% of all lymphoma patients, and it accounts for more than half of all primary extranodal lymphomas of the head and neck. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of 130 adult patients with localized (stages I and II) WR-NHL seen at a single institution over 18 years.

RESULTS

Patients had a median age of 55 years, and the male-female ratio was 1:5:1. Seventy five (58%), 46 (35%), and 9 (7%) patients had primary tonsillar, nasopharyngeal, and base of the tongue lymphoma, respectively. Forty-five (35%) and 85 (65%) had stage I and stage II disease, respectively. Most patients (109 patients, 84%) had diffuse large B-cell NHL (DLC). Chemotherapy (CT) was given to 58 (45%) patients, whereas 26 (20%) received radiation therapy (RTX), and 46 (35%) were managed with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CMT). One hundred nine (84%), 16 (12%), and 5 (4%) patients attained complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), and treatment failure, respectively, with no difference in CR rates between the three therapeutic modalities. Of those patients with DLC, 90 (83%), 15 (14%), and 4 (3%) demonstrated CR, PR, and treatment failure, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, the modified International Prognostic Index (IPI) was found to predict the attainment of CR. Over a median follow-up of 49 months; 76 (58%) of the patients were alive and disease-free, 5 (4%) were alive with evidence of disease, and the remaining 49 (38%) were dead. Most distant relapses were in nongastrointestinal extranodal sites. The median overall survival (OS) has not been reached; however, the projected 5-year OS was 58%. No OS difference was noted between patients with stage I and stage II. Cox proportional hazards model identified primary tonsillar site and a low-risk group as defined by the modified IPI were associated with favorable OS. The median event-free survival was 82.3 months, with the primary tonsillar site, and low-risk modified IPI group were associated with favorable EFS in a multivariate analysis. Probably because of the high frequency of patients with DLC, the outcome and the prognostic factors in those patients were not distinctive from those for the whole group. The CMT was not associated with a superior OS compared with either of the single modality treatments; however, it was associated with more favorable EFS.

CONCLUSIONS

This series characterized the clinicopathologic features and outcome of adult patients with early stage WR-NHLs. No survival difference was noted between stage I and stage II, and the outcome was favorable. Primary tonsillar site and the low-risk group of the modified IPI predicted favorable OS and EFS. CMT is probably superior to single modality treatment; however, prospective studies are warranted.

Clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in Turkey

Clinical, histopathologic, and prognostic features of 114 patients with primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were evaluated. Median age of the patients was 48 (range, 15-76) and the ratio of male/female was 55/59. Thirty-seven patients had stage 1, 55 patients stage II, 6 patients stage III, and 16 patients stage IV. The most common sites of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and head-neck region. Stomach (66%) and tonsils (33%) were the most frequently involved organ in GI tract and head-neck region, respectively. Eighty percent of patients had intermediate or high-grade lymphomas, 20% had low-grade subtypes. Complete remission was achieved in 83% of all patients with chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy +/- surgery. Overall and disease-free survival at 5 years were 63% and 59%, respectively. In conclusion, clinical and histopathologic characteristics and prognosis of our cases with primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were usually similar to those of the cases in Western countries with some differences in the incidence of some specific primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and in the histopathologic subtypes.

Case report: extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the parapharyngeal space

We report an unusual case of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the parapharyngeal space. Clinical presentation looked like right peritonsillar abscess and hypoglossal palsy. After histologic study of his biopsy, this 19-year-old man was given a diagnosis of diffuse large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Immunohistochemical study showed cell-type B and he was determined to have Stage IIE. Treatment combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Extranodal lymphoma of the head and neck presents a diagnostic problem. We review various approaches to extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the head and neck. This condition especially requires communication between the surgeon and the pathologist, essential in preventing an incorrect or delayed diagnosis.

Apoptosis-associated proteins in oral lymphomas from HIV-positive patients

Extranodal oral lymphomas, seen with increasing frequency in HIV infection, may have dysfunctional apoptotic mechanisms that favor tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate extranodal lymphomas from HIV-positive patients for expression of apoptosis-associated proteins. Correlations were made with 10 histologically comparable extranodal lymphomas from HIV-negative patients and 6 hyperplastic lymph nodes from otherwise healthy young adults. Formalin-fixed tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained for apoptosis-associated proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bax, Bak, p53, MDM2, BHRF). In situ hybridization was also done on deparaffinized sections for Epstein-Barr virus EBER mRNA. Eighteen consecutive oral lymphomas were studied in HIV/AIDS-positive patients. Four of 5 intermediate-grade lymphomas expressed Bcl-2 to a greater degree than did high-grade lymphomas (4 of 13). Most lymphomas were positive for Bcl-x and Bax, and few expressed Bak. The staining patterns for these proteins were similar to those seen in HIV-negative patients. Staining patterns were relatively consistent in the hyperplastic lymph nodes, whereas such patterns were irregular in lymphomas. Positive p53 staining was seen in 11 of 18 HIV-positive cases; 9 of these were also MDM2-positive. Double stains suggested that both p53 and MDM2 proteins were expressed in the same cells in these nine cases. Epstein-Barr virus-EBER mRNA was detected in 14 of 18 cases and in 3 of 10 cases from HIV-negative patients. BHRF staining was evident in only a few cells of three HIV-positive lymphomas. The irregular expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bax, and Bak in oral lymphomas indicates dysfunctional apoptotic mechanisms in these tumors. Bcl-2 staining differs with tumor grade. Positive staining for p53 and MDM2 proteins is a notable feature of lymphomas in HIV-positive patients and may relate to binding of MDM2 to wild-type p53. Epstein-Barr virus is more commonly associated with oral lymphomas in HIV-positive patients, although the Epstein-Barr virus-produced protein BHRF, which has Bcl-2-like activity, is minimally expressed.