[Three cases of malignant lymphoma developing from chronic empyema wall].

Three patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) involving the lung or chest wall are reported. All patients had tuberculous pleuritis or received artificial pneumothorax for pulmonary tuberculosis 30 years or more previously. The NHL of these patients developed in or close to the thickened pleura. Histologic examination showed diffuse large cell type (LSG classification) in all cases. Lymphomas of all cases were considered to have originated from B-cell lineage because their neoplastic cells expressed B1 (CD20) antigens. In no case the tumors were resectable, and chemotherapy or radiotherapy were performed. Two died of local NHL at 5 and 6 months respectively after diagnosis. One patient is still alive at 8 months after the first treatment for NHL. Early diagnosis is essential to improve the prognosis of these NHLs although it is difficult because of the co-existent pyothorax. Following features seemed to be useful for diagnosis: 1) chest pain or shoulder pain, 2) elevation of LDH level, 3) mass shadow in computed tomography, and 4) abnormal uptake of gallium 67. As precise assessment of tumor size is difficult because of the co-existent pyothorax and necrosis, follow-up studies by gallium scan or magnetic resonance imaging might be useful for proper treatment.