Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in couples.
The occurrence of identical non-Hodgkin lymphomas in three couples related only by marriage, is reported. The couples had lived together for 25 years or longer and there was a five to eight year delay in onset  of the lymphoma between each of the members of the couple. The pathologic finding in two of the three couples was a nodular poorly differentiated lymphocytic (NPDL) type in the third a diffuse histiocytic (DHL) type (Rappaport's classification). All cases are believed to be of B-cell origin. The unusual clustering in their cases suggests an infections agent and/or environmental factor may be playing a role in the etiologic causes of some non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
D000368:Aged; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone