BACKGROUND: Primary bone lymphoma is a rare disease, representing less than 5% of all extra-nodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively searched the database of the lymphoma unit, Hematology/Lymphoma Department, Athens General Hospital 'Evangelismos' for primary bone lymphoma patients. Demographic and clinicopathologic data were collected and overall survival was analyzed. A log-rank test was used in a univariate analysis to identify factors affecting overall survival. RESULTS: We identified 24 and analyzed data from 22 patients. 12 were male (54.5%) and 10 female (45.4%) and their median age was 55 years (range: 19-83). Most patients had localized disease at the time of diagnosis (n = 19, 86.3%), the most common site was the spine (n = 11, 50%) and the most common histology was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 21 patients received chemotherapy as initial therapy and 16 received combined chemoradiation. 81.8% of the patients (n = 18) achieved complete remission. 5-year survival rate was 86.3% and overall survival was found to be affected by the patients' initial response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Primary bone lymphoma is usually associated with a good prognosis. Prospective studies are needed in order to clarify the effect of immunochemotherapy in overall survival.
BACKGROUND:Primary bone lymphoma is a rare disease, representing less than 5% of all extra-nodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively searched the database of the lymphoma unit, Hematology/Lymphoma Department, Athens General Hospital 'Evangelismos' for primary bone lymphomapatients. Demographic and clinicopathologic data were collected and overall survival was analyzed. A log-rank test was used in a univariate analysis to identify factors affecting overall survival. RESULTS: We identified 24 and analyzed data from 22 patients. 12 were male (54.5%) and 10 female (45.4%) and their median age was 55 years (range: 19-83). Most patients had localized disease at the time of diagnosis (n = 19, 86.3%), the most common site was the spine (n = 11, 50%) and the most common histology was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 21 patients received chemotherapy as initial therapy and 16 received combined chemoradiation. 81.8% of the patients (n = 18) achieved complete remission. 5-year survival rate was 86.3% and overall survival was found to be affected by the patients' initial response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS:Primary bone lymphoma is usually associated with a good prognosis. Prospective studies are needed in order to clarify the effect of immunochemotherapy in overall survival.