[Skeletal involvement in malignant lymphoma]

Of 114 patients with Hodgkin's disease reviewed, 13 (11%) had bone involvement. The typical osseous lesion in Hodgkin's disease is a secondary manifestation in the axial skeleton. The lesions are mainly lytic; there is no relation between the site of the affection and the character of the lesion. Of 261 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 19 (7.3%) had bone involvement. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma very rarely affects the bone primarily; these lesions are lytic. Involvement of the appendicular skeleton is reported to by typical; this cannot be confirmed by our study. Most secondary osseous lesions in non-Hodgkin lymphoma are found in the cranium, the spine and the sternum; this pattern of distribution as well as the mainly lytic appearance can be considered typical.