Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in northwestern Kyushu Island of Japan. Clinicopathological studies based on the Japanese classification of malignant lymphoma.

Abstract

Ninety cases of node-based non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in northwestern Kyushu, Japan were classified according to the Japanese Lymphoma Study Group (LSG) and the immunological as well as clinicopathological studies were performed. There were 6 cases of small cell type, 23 of medium-sized cell type, 25 of large cell type, 20 of pleomorphic type, 10 of lymphoblastic type and 6 cases of specific lymphomatous lesions (Lennert's lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy-like pattern). Immunologically, the T-cell character was predominant in pleomorphic type (100%), specific lymphomatous lesions (100%), medium-sized cell type (80%) and large cell type (60%). Clinically, leukemic manifestation was frequently encountered in all histological types except for large cell type. The leukemic cells in pleomorphic type and T-medium-sized cell type were polymorphic, similar to those of adult T-cell leukemia. Skin lesions were found chiefly in leukemic cases of pleomorphic and T-medium-sized cell types, and non-leukemic cases of T-large cell type. The worst prognosis was observed in the pleomorphic type, especially of leukemic form. These results support the proposal of pleomorphic type as a distinct entity in prospecting the immunological subtype, clinical manifestations, and survival. In addition, T-medium-sized cell and pleomorphic types, having common clinicopathological characteristics, may be categorized as one group. On the other hand, T-large cell type seems to be composed of heterogenous groups of the peripheral T-cell tumor, although some cases overlap with pleomorphic type.