title: Disseminated intravascular B-cell lymphoma: clinicopathological features and outcome of three cases treated with anthracycline-based immunochemotherapy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of combination anthracycline-based immunochemotherapy in intravascular lymphoma (IVL). This is an extremely rare, disseminated, and aggressive extranodal CD20(+) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with poor outcome following anthracycline-based chemotherapy. From a population of 700 newly diagnosed patients with NHL who were registered and followed up at our unit between 1990 and 2005, three cases (0.4%) have been classified as IVL. Among the patients, there were two men and one woman, with a median age of 52 years. We have assessed the clinicopathological characteristics, response to therapy, and outcome. All patients presented with systemic symptoms and disseminated disease. All patients received anthracycline-based chemotherapy in combination with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab (immunochemotherapy). Complete remission was achieved in all three patients, and currently all remain progression free with a follow-up of 24-45 months. In conclusion, anthracycline-based immunochemotherapy induces durable remissions in patients with IVL, an ultimately fatal disease, suggesting that the clinical course of this disease may be altered with immunochemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Lymphoma, Evangelismos Hospital, 45-47 Ipsilandou Street, Athens 106 76, Greece. bouzani@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouzani
authors.forename: Themis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karmiris
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rontogianni
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delimpassi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Apostolidis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mpakiri
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nikiforakis
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone