Biology and staging of childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Childhood non-Hodgkin lymphomas are relatively common childhood cancers composed of malignant B lymphocytes or thymocytes at various stages of maturation, usually intermediate or late. Most often, they have a diffuse pattern of infiltration and are high grade, lymphoblastic, small noncleaved-cell (undifferentiated, Burkitt or non-Burkitt types) or large cell types. Primary site correlates with immunophenotype and histopathology. For example, most abdominal tumors are B cell and non-lymphoblastic types, and most thoracic primary tumors are of thymocytic origin. Skin presentations are rare, usually lymphoblastic in histology and often of the pre-B cell phenotype. An appropriate work-up and adequate staging is mandatory, since the selection of therapy depends heavily on disease stage. Histopathologic findings are additionally important in determining appropriate therapy for advanced-stage disease. Finally, cytogenetic studies of B and T cell malignancies have defined nonrandom abnormalities in many of these neoplasms and, together with molecular analyses, hold exciting promise for an improved understanding of tumor pathogenesis.
Crist
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WM
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Mahmoud
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H
Pickert
C B
CB
Pui
C H
CH
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging