BACKGROUND: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare immunoproliferative disorder, the clinical course of which varies. In related B-cell neoplasms, such as multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the histologic features of bone marrow are considered to be of prognostic relevance. METHODS: To assess the prognostic features of WM, the authors reviewed the clinical and pathologic features of 22 patients. Bone marrow aspirates and core biopsies were available for each case. Immunostains for a panel of hematopoietic markers as well as p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were performed. RESULTS: There were 14 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 60 years. At presentation, two histologic subtypes, lymphoplasmacytoid (73%) and lymphoplasmacytic (27%), were observed. Four patterns of bone marrow infiltration were delineated: diffuse (45%), nodular-interstitial (22%), mixed paratrabecular-nodular (20%), and paratrabecular (13%). In 11 patients, the infiltrate occupied greater than 70% of the bone marrow; in 8 patients, 30-70%; and in 3 patients, less than 30%. PCNA reactivity was observed in 58% of cases and p53 reactivity in 21%. Ten patients died of disease with an average survival of 84 months. The remaining 12 patients were alive with disease at last follow-up. The pretreatment parameters that were correlated with shorter survival were hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and serum immunoglobulin M level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that some pretreatment parameters, such as cytopenia, serum immunoglobulin M level, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy, correlate with poor prognosis for patients with WM. In contrast, histologic features and expression of p53 and PCNA did not correlate significantly with survival.
BACKGROUND: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare immunoproliferative disorder, the clinical course of which varies. In related B-cell neoplasms, such as multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the histologic features of bone marrow are considered to be of prognostic relevance. METHODS: To assess the prognostic features of WM, the authors reviewed the clinical and pathologic features of 22 patients. Bone marrow aspirates and core biopsies were available for each case. Immunostains for a panel of hematopoietic markers as well as p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were performed. RESULTS: There were 14 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 60 years. At presentation, two histologic subtypes, lymphoplasmacytoid (73%) and lymphoplasmacytic (27%), were observed. Four patterns of bone marrow infiltration were delineated: diffuse (45%), nodular-interstitial (22%), mixed paratrabecular-nodular (20%), and paratrabecular (13%). In 11 patients, the infiltrate occupied greater than 70% of the bone marrow; in 8 patients, 30-70%; and in 3 patients, less than 30%. PCNA reactivity was observed in 58% of cases and p53 reactivity in 21%. Ten patients died of disease with an average survival of 84 months. The remaining 12 patients were alive with disease at last follow-up. The pretreatment parameters that were correlated with shorter survival were hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and serum immunoglobulin M level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that some pretreatment parameters, such as cytopenia, serum immunoglobulin M level, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy, correlate with poor prognosis for patients with WM. In contrast, histologic features and expression of p53 and PCNA did not correlate significantly with survival.