title: Excellent prognosis and prevalence of HCV infection of primary hepatic and splenic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary Hepatic (PHL) and Primary Splenic (PSL) non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma are rare entities. Small series of PHL and PSL have been reported, suggesting a non-fortuitous association with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. The prognosis is believed to be dismal, with early recurrence and short survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed all PHL and PSL patients diagnosed at our institution between 1990 and 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five adult patients were identified, six with PHL and 19 with PSL. Twenty-four patients had a B-cell lymphoma, defined as Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma in 18. The prevalence of HCV infection was 68% among PSL and 66% among PHL. Combination chemotherapy was the mainstay of treatment for PHL and PSL; all but one patient with PSL underwent splenectomy before chemotherapy. Complete remission was achieved in all the cases after frontline therapy; only four patients relapsed but responded to additional chemotherapy courses. Most patients presented with aggressive histological subtypes; 92% were alive at a median follow up of 79 months. HCV infection did not appear to influence the results of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirms the rarity of PHL and PSL, shows a high prevalence of HCV infection, and demonstrates that the outcome of patients with PHL and PSL may be favourable.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Unit, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. aderenzo@unina.it
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Renzo
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Notaro
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mainolfi
authors.forename: Ilario
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Sio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciancia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rotoli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D015996:Survival Rate