[Clinical features of malignant follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (author's transl)]

75 cases treated between 1970 and 1976 for malignant follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were analysed for their cardinal signs. Contrary to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of "higher malignancy degree", the average age of patients with malignant follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is generally over 50 years, being more common in females. By the time the diagnosis is made a generalised stage has usually been reached. In the described group of patients the five-year survival rate was 65%, but compared with the malignant lymphoma of higher malignancy the prognosis is often complicated by secondary diseases resulting from the higher age. The findings confirm the need for histological sub-classification of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.