Supradiaphragmatic presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in men occupationally exposed to organic solvents.

Using a standardized interview schedule, occupational exposure to organic solvents was investigated in 61 consecutive male patients with the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. When exposure was defined as handling of organic solvents every working day for at least one year, 23 patients were exposed and 38 non-exposed. Of 15 patients with clinical stage I-II above the diaphragm, 12 (80%) were occupationally exposed to organic solvents. Only 1 (11%) of 9 patients with clinical stage I-II disease located below the diaphragm was exposed. Thirty-seven patients had clinical stage III-IV disease at the time of diagnosis and 10 (27%) of these were exposed. The predominance of exposed patients in the group with stage I-II disease above the diaphragm is significant and the results indicate a relation between exposure to organic solvents and supradiaphragmatic presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. No correlation was found between exposure and the morphology of the lymphomas.