Clinical Features and Possible Prognostic Factors in Patients with Marginal Zone Lymphoma: Retrospective Analysis from Two Centers

Abstract

Objective: Marginal zone lymphoma accounts 5%-17% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas and has an indolent clinical course. The parameters that predict prognosis and the need for treatment are still unclear. The aim of the current study was to examine the impact of parameters on the course of disease and the need for treatment in marginal zone lymphoma. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with marginal zone lymphoma patients in the hematology departments of two centres between 2010 and 2018. The demographic and disease characteristics, and also hematological and biochemical parameters at the time of diagnosis were examined. The effect of the parameters on overall survival and need for treatment were analyzed. Fourty patients were included in this study. Results: A total of 40 MZL patients, 25 (62.5%) women and 15 (37.5%) men, were evaluated. During the follow-up, 25 patients required treatment and 15 patiens were followed up without treatment. overall survival of all marginal zone lymphoma patients was 58.4 months. Overall survival was significantly higher in patients with nodal marginal zone lymphoma than in extranodal and splenic marginal zone lymphoma patients. The platelet count of untreated patients at the time of diagnosis were significantly higher than patients who received treatment (p= 0.04). Conclusion: We demonstrated platelet count at the time of diagnosis as a predictive factor for future treatment need. It is an objective and simple blood test that may be helpful to predict the course of the disease although further studies are warranted.