[The features of cases of intrathoracic lymphomas]

In this study, 18 patients who had been diagnosed as intrathoracic lymphoma between January 1999 and August 2001 had been evaluated retrospectively to guide the diagnostic approaches. 12 (66.6%) of the patients were male and 6 (33.4%) were female. The mean age was 46.47 +/- 17.31. The leading symptoms were disapnea, cough, weight loss and fever. The most frequently seen laboratory findings were decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit rates (72.2%) and increased Lactate Dehydrogenase levels (44.4%). Radiologically, 18 (100%) patients had mediastinal lymph node enlargement, 8 (44.4%) patients had bilateral and 6 (33.3%) had unilateral hilar enlargement, 3 (16.6%) patients had appearance of mass lesion, 1 (5.5%) had appearance of consolidation, 2 (11.1%) patients had atelectasis, 3 (16.6%) patients had appearance of pleural effusion. Histopathological diagnosis were undertaken with lymph node biopsies in 11(61.1%) patients, with bronchial biopsies in 2 (11.1%) patients, with pleural biopsy in 1 (5.5%) patient, with lymph node and bronchial biopsies in 3 (16.6%) patients, with lymph node and pleural biopsies in 1 (5.5%) patient. 11 (61.1%) patients were diagnosed as Hodgkin Disease (nine as nodular type, two as mixed cellular type). 7 (38.9%) patients were diagnosed as non Hodgkin Lymphoma. After taking diagnosis the patients were sent to medical oncology clinics for follow up and therapy. These findings showed that different locations of intrathoracic lymphomas could be seen with nodal or extranodal presentations so it must be taken into account in differential diagnosis of other pathological conditions.