[Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma:a report of 24 cases with literature review].
OBJECTIVE
Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is an uncommon subtybe of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This study was to investigate optimal treatment and prognostic factors of PMBCL by analyzing its clinical features.


METHODS
Clinical records of 24 PMBCL patients, treated in Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital from 1995 to 2005, were reviewed.


RESULTS
Of the 24 patients, 16 were men and 8 were women, aged from 12 to 81; 20 were at stage I-II, 1 at stage III, and 3 at stage IV; 13 had bulk disease; 10 had superior vena cava syndrome; 14 had contiguous infiltration; 15 had lacate dehydrogenase elevation; 11 received chemoradiotherapy, 10 received chemotherapy alone, and 3 received radiotherapy alone; 10 achieved complete remission (CR) after scheduled treatment, 12 achieved partial remission (PR), 1 had stable disease and 1 had progressive disease. The median survival time was 89 months; the 3-year overall survival rate was 69%. At the end of follow-up, the patients initially achieved CR were all alive. International prognostic index (IPI) did not predict survival in this analysis, while bulk disease predicted poor survival.


CONCLUSIONS
PMBCL has a male dominance in this analysis. Its clinical presentation is critical. Prompt diagnosis is needed. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy with radiotherapy may lead to favorable outcome. The patients with bulk disease have poor survival.
Chen
Dao-Guang
DG
Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350014, P. R. China. cdg70@126.com
Yang
Yu
Y
Pan
Cai-Zhu
CZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis