B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Prognostic implication of bone marrow histology in 120 patients experience from a single hematology unit.

The available staging systems for B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) do not always predict the clinical course and the prognosis of the disease. In these systems, the pattern of bone marrow histology is not incorporated. In the current report we investigate the prognostic value of the diffuse or nondiffuse pattern of bone marrow involvement in 120 B-CLL patients in relation to their actuarial survival, and we compare these results with the actuarial survival based on the International Workshop system. In addition, we analyze the influence of the diffuse or nondiffuse pattern on the actuarial survival, in relation to the individual clinical stages (A, B, C). All patients were diagnosed and followed-up in the same Unit. Our patients were divided into Stage A (64), Stage B (22), and Stage C (34). They were also subdivided into those with a diffuse (46) and those with a nondiffuse (74) pattern of bone marrow histology. The difference in the actuarial survival in relation to their clinical stage (A, B, C) was statistically significant (P less than 0.025). A greater statistical difference (P less than 0.005) was found when the actuarial survival was analyzed in relation to the diffuse or nondiffuse pattern of bone marrow histology. No statistically significant differences could be found (P greater than 0.1), when the actuarial survival was calculated in every stage (A, B, C), on the basis of the diffuse or nondiffuse pattern of bone marrow histology. When our Stage A and B patients were analyzed for disease progression, in relation to the diffuse or nondiffuse bone marrow histology, it was found that 66.6% of the diffuse Stage A patients and 88% of the diffuse Stage B patients had disease progression as compared to only 8.6% for the nondiffuse Stage A patients and 33% for the nondiffuse Stage B patients. Our findings indicate that: the pattern of bone marrow histology in B-CLL patients is the single most important prognostic parameter in this disease; a clinicopathologic staging system for B-CLL may be justified; and the diffuse pattern of bone marrow histology could be considered as the best criterion for initiation of therapy in these patients.