Lymphoblastic lymphomas in children – A single-center experience from Serbia

Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2016 Jul-Aug;144(7-8):413-7.

Abstract

Introduction: Intensive treatment protocols used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children lead to eventfree survival rates ranging from 80% to 90%. However, the results are less successful in developing countries. Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is the second most frequent type of lymphoma in children, contributing with about one third to all non-Hodgkin lymphoma in childhood.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of LBL treatment in University Children’s Hospital (UCH), Belgrade.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patient records at UCH from 1997 to 2015 was carried out in patients aged 0–18 years, in whom the diagnosis of LBL had been established. Twenty-two children were included in the analysis.

Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 10 years, with preponderance of male patients. All patients were treated according to Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster-based chemotherapy protocols. With median follow-up of 91.5 months, five-year probability of event-free survival was 79.5% for all patients, while overall survival was 81.8%.

Conclusion: Our results, although slightly inferior to those of leading international groups, reflect a good treatment outcome in our patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / epidemiology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / epidemiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Serbia / epidemiology
  • Sex Distribution
  • Survival Analysis