Peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study of 42 cases.

Abstract

Clinical and histopathologic material from 42 patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) was reviewed. The median age was 63.5 yr (range, 11-97 yr). The male:female ratio was 2.8:1. Prior immune or lymphoproliferative diseases occurred in 36% of the patients. PTCL was advanced at presentation with B symptoms (67%), generalized adenopathy (69%) and stage III/IV disease (79%). Suspected lung or pleural involvement (21%), hepatomegaly (29%), and splenomegaly (43%) were common; marrow involvement was documented in 37% of the patients at presentation and in 51% of patients during the illness. Hypercalcemia and eosinophilia occurred in 19 and 29% of patients, respectively. Among patients receiving combination chemotherapy (BCOP [cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone], CHOP [cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone], BACOP [bleomycin, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone], COMLA [cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, leucovorin rescue and cytarabine]) 8 (24%) of 33 achieved a complete remission and only 4 (12%) of 33 had a sustained complete remission. The median survival for PTCL was 11 mo. Because of the poor response to standard therapy, clinical trials should identify cases of PTCL and evaluate newer regimens in this subset of aggressive lymphoma.