Lymphoma Presenting in Bone

Abstract

Lymphoma presenting in bone i.e., reticulum cell sarcoma of bone is a form of extranodal lymphoma historically described as frequently localized (i.e., stage IE or stage IIE). Between 1970-1975, 14 patients with this entity were seen. This group had a variety of histologic subtypes of diffuse lymphoma. Thorough staging showed extensive disease (stage IV) in 12 of these patients (86%). In 10 of these the metastatic disease was unsuspected clinically. Seven patients achieved complete remissions after treatment with combination chemotherapy alone (2 patients), irradiation alone (1 patient), surgery alone (1 patient) and chemotherapy and irradiation (3 patients) and are alive and free of disease 11 plus to 70 plus mo. after diagnosis. The other 7 patients did not achieve complete remission status and all died. Although lymphomas presenting in bone may occasionally be localized, careful staging in this series frequently showed extensive disease and altered the therapeutic approach.