Prognostic factors in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

A review of prognostic factors described recently in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is presented with some comments on their interest and value for treatment choice and comprehension of the disease. The most important parameters are divided into three categories: 1) age; 2) extent of the tumor, ie, number of nodal or extranodal sites, bulkiness, stage, lactate dehydrogenase level or beta 2-microglobulin level; and 3) host-tumor interaction, ie, performance status, serum albumin level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. These initial parameters permit the stratification of lymphoma patients into subgroups with different outcomes in which different therapeutic modalities are tested.