Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children: disease pattern and survival.

Abstract

The use of intensive chemotherapy and incorporation of prophylactic treatment of the central nervous system have dramatically improved the outcome of children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The authors analyzed retrospectively the disease characteristics and survival data of 34 children with NHL during a 7-year period. There were 26 boys and 8 girls with a median age of 8 years. The primary sites were the abdomen (41%) and peripheral node (41%). Histopathologically lymphoblastic and undifferentiated lymphoma (small nonclaved cell lymphoma) were equally distributed (41%). Thirteen patients had localized disease (stage I and II) and 21 patients had advanced disease (stage III and IV). Surgical removal of the primary tumor was done in 6 patients with localized gastrointestinal lesions. All 34 patients received chemotherapy, either cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisolone (COMP) or adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (ACOP). Thirty patients achieved complete remission (88.2%). The 5-year event-free survival rate was 64%. The results indicate that most children with localized disease can be cured by COMP chemotherapy, but more aggressive chemotherapy is necessary to improve survival in advanced-stage disease.

• Authors: P Kusumakumary, A Shanavas, T Priyakumari, V G Chellam, M K Nair
• Journal: Pediatric hematology and oncology (Pediatr Hematol Oncol) 1998 Nov-Dec Vol. 15 Issue 6 Pg. 509-17 ISSN: 0888-0018 [Print] England
• PMID: 9842644 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• India
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (drug therapy, mortality, physiopathology)
• Male
• Retrospective Studies
• Survival Analysis