Diffuse large B cell lymphoma with an interfollicular pattern of proliferation shows a favourable prognosis: a study of the Osaka Lymphoma Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) occasionally shows an interfollicular pattern of proliferation (DLBCL-IF) preserving lymphoid follicles. In this study, clinicopathological findings in 31 cases of DLBCL-IF were analysed.


RESULTS
The study group comprised 20 males and 11 females, with ages ranging from 41 to 87 (median 69) years. The primary site was lymph node in 25 cases, and unknown in six due to advanced stage at diagnosis. Eight cases were clinical Stage I, 10 were Stage II, four Stage III, and nine Stage IV. A polymorphous pattern of proliferation containing large B cells and inflammatory cells was found in about 60% of cases. The overall survival rate of the DLBCL-IF patients was better than that of a DLBCL control group (log-rank test; P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that an interfollicular pattern of proliferation showed marginal significance for favourable prognosis (P = 0.069). Immunohistochemical double staining with antibodies for HLA-DR/CD68 (markers for M1-tumour-associated macrophage [M1-TAM]) or CD163/CD68 (M2-TAM) revealed that all DLBCL-IF patients with a low M2 count were alive at the end of observation.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that DLBCL-IF is a clinicopathological entity distinct from ordinary DLBCL. The possible origin of tumour cells in DLBCL-IF from marginal zone B cells is discussed.
Department of Pathology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Naoki
N
Wada
Mona A A
MA
Zaki
Masaharu
M
Kohara
Hiroyasu
H
Ogawa
Haruo
H
Sugiyama
Shosaku
S
Nomura
Itaru
I
Matsumura
Masayuki
M
Hino
Yuzuru
Y
Kanakura
Hiroshi
H
Inagaki
Eiichi
E
Morii
Katsuyuki
K
Aozasa
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor