[Characteristics of patients with low grade malignant lymphoma and long survival].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the initial and evolutive characteristics of the patients with low-grade lymphoma and long survival (> or = 12 years).


METHODS
The initial data (clinical, laboratory, histologic type, stage) and the clinical course (response to therapy, response duration) of 52 patients with low-grade lymphoma diagnosed before 1980 were analysed. The statistical study was carried out by means of the chi-square test with Yates' correction and Student's t; the actuarial survival was estimated, and the duration of remission was assessed by the Kaplan and Meier method. Curves were compared by the log rank method.


RESULTS
The 12-year survival as a whole was 32% (CI: 95%: 18.5%-45.5%). Of the 52 patients, 13 (25%) survived over 12 years. Nine were men and 4 women, with median age of 41 years (range: 22-68 years). Three cases had lymphocytic lymphoma and 10 had follicular lymphoma; 2 were in stage I-II and 11 in stage III-IV. Those patients who would become long-survivors had at diagnosis lesser frequency of spread lymph-node regional involvement (> or = 3 sites): 46% vs 81.8%, p = 0.04, as well as lesser percentage of bone-marrow involvement (38.4% vs 78.1%, p = 0.023). They were also better responders to treatment (CR+PR = 100% vs 71%, p = 0.013) and with longer duration (actuarial median duration of response 8 years vs 1.5 years, p = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
According to the present analysis, low-grade lymphoma patients who have at diagnosis low tumoral involvement (not too extensive lymph-node involvement, disease-free bone-marrow) and show good response to treatment have a better prognosis and may hope for a longer survival.
Martínez-Francés
A
A
Escuela de Hematología Farreras Valentí, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Clínico y Provincial, Universidad de Barcelona.
Lopez-Guillermo
A
A
Esteve
J
J
Bosch
F
F
Terol
M J
MJ
Montserrat
E
E
Rozman
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
Características de los pacientes con linfoma de bajo grado de malignidad y larga supervivencia.