A clinicopathological study of non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas in terms of the Kiel classification.

A group of 25 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was investigated. Patients diagnosed earlier were reclassified according to the Kiel system. A correlation between age distribution and histological malignancy was found. The time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 1 year on an average. The majority of the patients belonged to stage IV. The survival rate was higher in the low-grade malignancy group than in the high-grade group. When assessing the prognosis, the histological classification as well as the clinical staging ought to be considered. The bone marrow was the most frequent extranodal site of involvement in stage IV. Cytopenic changes were almost invariably accompanied by bone marrow infiltration. All the 7 cases analysed for lymphocyte surface markers proved to be B cell type. No significant difference was seen between the results of single agent and combined chemotherapy.