Primary lymphoma of bone: 9 cases reports and a clinical analysis of diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of primary lymphoma of bone(PLB). Methods Retrospective analysis of 9 cases with newly diagnosed PLB was performed. The primary lesion was located in bone and no evidence of lesion was found in other tissues. All the lesions were confirmed by histological examination and immunohistochemical staining. The clinical manifestation and radiological appearance of all cases were non-specific. Results 9 patients were enrolled in the current study including 6 males and 3 females with average age of 34 years old(15-71 years old). All cases had suffered local pain or edema as initial symptom. Single bone infiltration was detected in 7 patients, while multiple bones infiltration was noticed in 2 patients. The lesion distribution was as follows: 4 lesions were situated in pelvis(3 in ilium and 1 in sacral), 1 in femur, 1 in humerus, 1 in scapula, and 2 in spine. 2 cases were treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, 3 cases were treated with chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 1 case was treated with chemotherapy and surgery, and 3 cases received chemotherapy alone. With in a median follow-up of 8 months, 6 patients showed overall response(including 5 cases of complete response and 1 case of partial response). Conclusions PLB is a rare condition, and the diagnostic criteria and treatment are still not well defined. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment usually achieves satisfactory prognosis. The possibility of PLB must be concerned for patients with bone pain, soft tissue swelling or unexplained fractures, and pathological examination should be carried on as soon as possible. Key words: Bone; Lymphoma; Clinical characteristics; Treatment