Adenocarcinoma of the lung in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The development of a second neoplasm is a rare complication in patients with various types of primary malignancy. This report describes two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed adenocarcinoma of the lung and malignant pleural effusion following many years of cytotoxic therapy. The value of cytological examination of the sputum and pleural aspirate, as well as fibreoptic bronchial biopsy in the diagnosis are emphasised. The higher incidence of this complication in patients with lymphocytic type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be due to their longer survival and probable basic immune defects which become overt after chemotherapy.