GIANT FOLLICULAR LYMPHOBLASTOMA: ITS TREATMENT WITH RADIOISOTOPES

Abstract

The clinical and pathological findings in 20 patients with giant follicular lymphoblastoma are presented and discussed. Age, sex distribution, and clinical findings correspond to those previously reported. A lack of correlation between the duration of the disease and the relative benign or malignant histologic appearance of the lesions was found. Changes in the histologic picture toward dedifferentiation between the original biopsy and the autopsy findings also failed to correlate with the duration of disease. Sixteen patients were treated with p32, in some cases with X-ray therapy. Five patients were in terminal condition when first treated. Eleven patients received adequate P32 therapy alone or combined with local X-ray. The general plan of treatment was to give fractional doses of approximately 1 mc. at intervals of about 1 week. This was highly individualized. Total dosage was controlled by the response of the lesions and the effect on bone marrow. The response in 3 patients was considered excellent, in 3 patients good, and in 3 patients fair. The average duration in the 10 adequately treated cases followed to death was 6.7 years. p32 with local X-ray or alone may be the treatment of choice in giant follicular lymphoblastoma in those cases with widespread involvement.