Isolated bone marrow non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study.
BACKGROUND
Isolated bone marrow non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is rare, and determining the diagnosis is difficult.


METHODS
We describe four patients with apparent isolated bone marrow NHL. The features they had in common included fever, abnormal liver function, pancytopenia, polyserositis, neurologic symptoms, opportunistic infections, and a short, fatal course.


RESULTS
Routine cytologic and histologic studies showed intermediate and large lymphomatous cells in the bone marrow, with a predominantly interstitial pattern. Immunophenotyping revealed three cases of T-cell and one case of B-cell NHL. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated an abnormal clone in two patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of isolated bone marrow NHL should be based on the examination of both bone marrow aspirates and biopsy specimens.
Ponzoni
M
M
Division of Hematopathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male