Rare Primary Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Confined to Bone Marrow: Features and Prognosis

Primary bone marrow diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PBM-DLBCL) represents an uncommon yet clinically aggressive hematologic malignancy. Despite its significant clinical impact, this entity lacks standardized diagnostic criteria in current WHO classifications.

We performed a retrospective analysis of 55 PBM-DLBCL cases from our institutional database and published literature (2001-2022) to characterize disease features and identify prognostic factors, with particular focus on assessing how different treatment regimens influence therapeutic efficacy and long-term outcomes.

The data suggested a potential link between international prognostic index (IPI) scores and poorer survival, albeit without conclusive statistical evidence (p = 0.05). Treatment response emerged as a significant prognostic factor, and patients with complete response (CR) demonstrating superior survival in Cox univariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.001). Intensive therapeutic regimens were associated with improved clinical outcomes compared to conventional therapies. While incorporating rituximab into conventional chemotherapy regimens has demonstrated superior clinical outcomes compared to chemotherapy alone in PBM-DLBCL patients.

Our findings highlight the aggressive nature of PBM-DLBCL and underscore the importance of early recognition, risk stratification, and optimized treatment selection for this rare disease entity.