title: Mature B cell neoplasms: retrospective analysis of 93 cases diagnosed between 2011 and 2014 in a University Hospital in southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to the 2008 World Health Organization classification, mature B-cell neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of diseases that include B-cell lymphomas and plasma cell disorders. These neoplasms can have very different clinical behaviors, from highly aggressive to indolent, and therefore require diverse treatment strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the profile of 93 patients diagnosed with mature B-cell neoplasms monitored between 2011 and 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of patients' charts was performed and laboratory results were obtained using the online system of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 93 adult patients with mature B-cell neoplasms. The most frequent subtypes were multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. There were statistical differences in terms of age at diagnosis, lactate dehydrogenase activity and Ki-67 expression among the subtypes of B-cell lymphoma. According to the prognostic indexes, the majority of multiple myeloma patients were categorized as high risk, while the majority of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients were classified as low risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the profile of patients diagnosed with mature B-cell neoplasms in a south Brazilian university hospital. Of the B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma presented particular features regarding lactate dehydrogenase activity levels, Ki-67 expression, age at diagnosis, and human immunodeficiency virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chandra Chiappin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Rabello
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joanita Angela Gonzaga
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Del Moral
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: maria.claudia.silva@ufsc.br.
authors.forename: Maria Claudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
keywords: Diagnosis; Mature B-cell neoplasms; Prognosis; Treatment response