Blood Res.  2014 Mar;49(1):36-41. 10.5045/br.2014.49.1.36.

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma: a single-center experience in Korea

• Ahn HJ
• Yoon DH
• Kim S
• Lee K
• Kang EH
• Huh J
• Park CS
• Suh C

• KMID: 2172821
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5045/br.2014.49.1.36

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) is a distinct subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which has no consensus for its ideal treatment or prognosis.
METHODS
We reviewed the clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of 25 PMBL cases diagnosed at a single institution between 1993 and 2009 and compared them with 588 cases of non-mediastinal, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, control group) diagnosed during the same period.
RESULTS
Thirteen (52.0%) PMBL patients had Ann Arbor stage III or IV disease, and 10 (40.0%) had B symptoms. Thirteen (52%) PMBL patients were classified as high-intermediate/high-risk according to the International Prognostic Index. There was a significant prevalence of young (median: 31 years; range, 15-78 years; P<0.001), female (68%; P=0.014) patients in the PMBL group compared to the control group (median: 56 years; range, 15-85 years; 43.2% female). Bulky disease and elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were more frequent in the PMBL group (P<0.001 and P=0.003, respectively). Nineteen (76%) PBML patients achieved complete remission, and 18 were alive at the last follow-up (median: 43 months; range, 1-92 months). There was no difference in the 3-year, overall survival rate (72%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 54.0-83.0 versus 70.1%, 95% CI, 109.0-126.0; P=0.686) between PMBL and control patients, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Compared to patients with non-mediastinal DLBCL, Korean patients with PMBL are predominantly young women with bulky disease and high LDH levels but with no significant difference in survival.

Keyword

Lymphoma; B cell; PMBL; Prognosis; Treatment

MeSH Terms

B-Lymphocytes*
Consensus
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Korea*
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, B-Cell*
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Prevalence
Prognosis
Survival Rate
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Kaplan-Meier curves showing progression-free survival (A) and overall survival (B) of patients with PMBL and non-mediastinal DLBCL, respectively. DLBCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; PMBL, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma.

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