Autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with extensive bone marrow necrosis.

A patient with malignant lymphoma, large cell type and extensive bone marrow necrosis at presentation is reported. Bone marrow necrosis persisted even after a complete remission was induced with standard chemotherapy. Because of this adverse prognostic factor, circulating stem cells were collected and reinfused following a myeloablative regimen consisting of busulfan, etoposide and cyclophosphamide. The patient engrafted rapidly and a subsequent bone marrow examination was free of both lymphoma and necrosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported patient with extensive bone marrow necrosis in whom circulating progenitor cells were harvested and utilized successfully.