Urinary cytodiagnostic abnormalities in 50 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Urinary cytodiagnostic evaluation was performed on 50 consecutive patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In 14 patients (28%) the urine sediment contained characteristic lymphoma cells. The groups with or without a positive urine cytology were comparable with respect to type of lymphoma, stage and course of disease, and recent treatment with chemotherapy. However, those with a positive urine cytology were more likely to have clinical evidence of kidney disease (43% vs 8%), although this was rarely attributed to disseminated lymphoma. In fact, in three patients, a positive urine cytology was the sole or presenting evidence for disseminated lymphoma. Although the groups with or without a positive cytology were similar with regard to physicochemical urinary findings, there were marked differences in the frequency of microscopic abnormalities. All patients with a positive cytology had evidence of renal parenchymal necrosis, renal tubular injury, or pathologic cast formation as compared with only 56% of those with a negative cytology. Thus, urinary cytodiagnostic evaluation may provide an important adjunct in the staging and evaluation of patients with malignant lymphomas.