Clinicopathological features and outcomes: analysis of 21 cases of lymphoma in pregnancy

Abstract

To evaluate the clinicopathological features and outcomes of lymphoma in pregnancy. A total of 21 patients with lymphoma in pregnancy were diagnosed and treated at our hospital between January 1999 and January 2012. The clinicopathological data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 11 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and 10 cases of nodular sclerosis classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (NSCHL). And, among 10 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), there were diffuse large B cell lymphoma (n = 6),B-cell lymphoma, non-classifiable with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma (n = 1), small lymphocytic lymphoma (n = 1), anaplastic large cell lymphoma with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive (n = 1) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (n = 1). The median age was 26(22-35) years.Superficial lymphadenopathy was more common in HL than in NHL (10/11 vs 3/10, P = 0.008). At diagnosis, bulky disease and extranodal involvement were more prevalent in NHL than in HL (8/10 vs 2/11, P = 0.009; 7/10 vs 2/11, P = 0.030). All patients received chemotherapy and those with early stages also had combined radiotherapy. Ten patients with HL and 6 patients with NHL achieved complete remission. During a median follow-up of 90 months for HL, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 87.5% and 100% respectively. And during a median follow-up of 31 months for NHL, the 2-year PFS and OS rates were 66.7% and 77.8% respectively. The values of PFS and OS of NHL were inferior to those of HL (P = 0.073 and P = 0.066 respectively).One case of HL and 1 case of NHL received chemotherapy in the second trimester. The patients and their children experienced good outcomes. NSCHL is the most prevalent subtype of HL during pregnancy. B cell lymphoma and aggressive subtypes are most common for NHL during pregnancy. The outcomes of NHL are inferior to those of HL during pregnancy.