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The pattern of bone marrow infiltration in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

K Hassan1, N Ikram, K P Bukhari

  • 1Department of Pathology, Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi.

Insights

Bone marrow infiltration patterns in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) were studied. Diffuse infiltration was most common across all grades, particularly high-grade NHLs.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) are a diverse group of lymphoid malignancies.
  • Bone marrow involvement is a significant prognostic factor in NHL.
  • Understanding infiltration patterns is crucial for staging and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the patterns of bone marrow infiltration in patients with confirmed NHL.
  • To correlate infiltration patterns with histological subtypes and grades of NHL.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of bone marrow biopsy specimens from 40 consecutive NHL cases with marrow involvement.
  • Histological classification of NHLs based on the Working Formulation.
  • Categorization of bone marrow infiltration patterns: diffuse, focal random, and focal paratrabecular.

Main Results:

  • Low-grade NHLs constituted 50% of cases, followed by intermediate (32.5%) and high-grade (17.5%).
  • Small lymphocytic type was the most frequent histological subtype (32.5%).
  • Diffuse infiltration was the predominant pattern, seen in 70% of low-grade, 76.7% of intermediate-grade, and 100% of high-grade NHLs.

Conclusions:

  • Bone marrow infiltration patterns vary with NHL grade and histology.
  • Diffuse infiltration is the most common pattern, especially in higher-grade lymphomas.
  • These findings aid in understanding NHL behavior and guiding clinical management.

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