[Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood. Review of 33 cases]

A retrospective study was performed of 33 cases of non Hodgkin's lymphoma in children diagnosed in our hospital. The mean age was 10 years and there were 24 males and 9 females. The distribution, according to Rappaport's diagnostic classification, was: 11 undifferentiated lymphomas, 9 lymphoblastic lymphomas, 6 diffuse histiocytic lymphomas, and 7 cases of other types. Of the 33 patients, 23 had bulky disease (over 5 cm. in diameter). The mean serum LDH and uric acid values were, respectively, 537 (68-2021) and 6.0 (2.7-19). According to Murphy's staging system, the distribution of the cases was as follows: I (1), II (4), III (12), IV (16). Since this study spreads for a long period, several protocols have been used in the treatment of the group, but most patients received the LSA2-L2 regimen. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 26 cases (78%), this being 100% of the lymphoblastic lymphomas. After a mean follow-up of 45 months, the actuarial survival is 48.1%, and the disease-free survival of patients attaining CR is 60.4%. The prognostic factors analysed, such as histologic type, stage, and serum LDH showed no statistical significance, probably due to the low number of cases studied.