Primary Small Intestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Primary intestinal lymphoma has not been previously reported in our unit, and we consider it to be a very rare cause of acute small bowel obstruction. METHODS: We present an adult male with features of recurrent small intestinal obstruction who previously underwent umbilical hernia repair for the same pain. A plain x-ray and ultrasound scan showed features of intestinal obstruction but did not suggest an aetiology of his symptoms. RESULTS: He was resuscitated and underwent an exploratory laparotomy and resection of an obstructing ileal mass with mesenteric nodes. Primary anastomosis of healthy ileum was done and the post-operative period was uneventful. The tissue was reported as low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). He was placed on CHOP with a satisfactory response. CONCLUSION: Small intestinal lymphoma is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction.

CONTEXTE: Le lymphome intestinal primaire n'a pas été rapporté précédemment dans notre unité, et nous le considérons comme une cause très rare d'obstruction aiguë de l'intestin grêle. MÉTHODES: Nous présentons un homme adulte présentant les caractéristiques d'une obstruction récurrente de l'intestin grêle et ayant déjà subi une réparation de hernie ombilicale pour la même douleur. La radiographie et l'échographie ont montré des caractéristiques d'obstruction intestinale mais n'ont pas suggéré l'étiologie de ses symptômes. RÉSULTATS: Il a été réanimé et a subi une laparotomie exploratoire et la résection d'une masse iléale obstructive avec des ganglions mésentériques. Une anastomose primaire de l'iléon sain a été réalisée et la période postopératoire s'est déroulée sans incident. Le tissu a été déclaré comme étant un lymphome non hodgkinien (LNH) à cellules B de bas grade. Il a été placé sous CHOP et avec une réponse satisfaisante. CONCLUSION: Le lymphome de l'intestin grêle est une cause rare d'obstruction intestinale. Mots clés: Lymphome intestinal primaire, Obstruction intestinale récurrente, Laparotomie.

Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma with Bone and Subcutaneous Tissue Invasion.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare form of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Few cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma involving bone and subcutaneous tissue invasion have been reported. Herein, we present the case of a 45-year-old man who experienced paroxysmal throbbing pain in the occipital area for more than 1 year, followed by progressive dysarthria and dyspnea for more than 4 days. Craniotomy and tumor removal were performed. Operative findings showed a posterior occipital soft tumor whose cells had invaded the skull and subcutaneous tissue.

Giant mesenteric fibromatosis associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric fibromatosis is a benign locally-aggressive mesenchymal neoplasm that lacks the potential for metastasis. It is related to Gardner's Syndrome, previous trauma, abdominal surgery, and prolonged intake of oestrogen. Differentially diagnosing this from similar tumours is crucial in order for establishing the appropriate treatment and only immunohistochemical features can be used for a definitive diagnosis. Although medical therapies play a role in the treatment of mesenteric fibromatosis, surgical resection is the gold-standard procedure. METHODS: Our case study is a 40-year-old male with a concomitant diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and mesenteric fibromatosis, not associated with any of the risk factors mentioned above. We performed CT and PET scans and observed a vascularised and well-defined mesenteric centre-abdominal hypermetabolic solid mass in contact with the gastric body, duodenum, body and tail of the pancreas, transverse colon, and spleen. An ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy revealed features suggestive of mesenteric fibromatosis. RESULTS: An elective laparotomy was carried out and a giant mass, arising from mesentery, was excised, including a partial gastrectomy and segmental resection of the transverse colon. Distal pancreatectomy, small bowel resection and successive splenectomy were performed due to a large hypertensive component. The postoperative period was uneventful. The histopathology of the surgical pieces was compatible with intra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis. CONCLUSION: As far as we know from the literature, this is the largest mesenteric fibromatosis tumour ever to be excised. We also noticed that this is the first reported case of the concomitant presence of mesenteric fibromatosis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is not related to any of the described risk factors. Further research is needed to establish what type of association this presentation may indicate.

The impact of surgery on long-term survival of patients with primary intestinal non-Hodgkin lymphomas based on SEER database.

Evidence regarding the need for surgery for primary intestinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PINHL) patients with chemotherapy is limited and controversial. We aimed to investigate the specific impact of surgery on survival of PINHL patients. Data from PINHL patients (aged > 18 years) with chemotherapy between 1983 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We concerned about overall survival (OS) and improved cancer-specific survival (CSS). Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was also used to explore the reliability of the results to further control for confounding factors. Finally, we screened 3537 patients. Multivariate regression analysis showed that patients with surgery and chemotherapy had better OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-0.93; p = 0.0009) and CSS (HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.77-0.99; p = 0.0404) compared with the non-operation group after adjusting for confounding factors. After PSM analysis, compared with non-surgery, surgery remained associated with improved OS (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.68-0.87; p < 0.0001) and improved CSS (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.72-0.95; p = 0.008) adjusted for baseline differences. In the large cohort of PINHL patients with chemotherapy older than 18 years, surgery was associated with significantly improved OS and CSS before and after PSM analysis.

Damage Control Surgery Saves Patient with Gastric Lymphoma from Radical Gastrectomy.

The concept of damage control surgery was first introduced in the 1990s. It has great significance in the treatment for critically ill patients, which not only greatly improves survival rate, but also helps doctors avoiding misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Herein, we present a case of gastric perforation caused by neoplasm with critical condition of the patient. According to the concept of damage control surgery, the patient was subjected to perforation repair and tumor biopsy instead of conventional radical gastrectomy. Then, diffuse large B cell lymphoma was diagnosed on pathologic examination. After surgery, the patient received R-CHOP chemotherapy according to the clinical guidelines and is alive till now. Our experience might be helpful for understanding the value of damage control surgery in avoiding misdiagnosis and mistreatment for critical emergency patients. Key Words: Lymphoma, Stomach, Perforation, Damage control surgery.

The role of surgical resection in primary central nervous system lymphoma: a single-center retrospective analysis of 70 patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical resection and stereotactic biopsy on the complication rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 70 patients diagnosed at a single institution with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and to explore the predictors of selection for resection and the prognostic factors of PCNSL. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 70 patients with PCNSL that was diagnosed by surgical resection or stereotactic brain biopsy in our department from January 2013 to May 2019. We divided the patients into two groups: a resection group (n = 28) and a stereotactic biopsy group (n = 42). Data on clinical characteristics, imaging findings, complication rates, PFS and OS were retrospectively reviewed and compared between these two groups. We also analysed the predictors of selection for resection and prognostic factors of PCNSL by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The median age was 53.3 ± 14.3 years, and there was a male predominance with a sex ratio of 1.33:1. The most common clinical manifestation was a headache. The complication rate in the resection group was 10.7% versus 7.1% in the stereotactic biopsy group, and there was no statistically significant difference. The rate of improvement in symptoms of the resection group was significantly higher than that of the stereotactic biopsy group. Multivariable analysis identified a single tumour and not involving deep structures as predictors of selection for resection. With a median follow-up of 30 months (range 1-110), the mean OS and PFS of all patients were 16.1 months and 6.2 months, respectively. Patients who underwent surgical resection had a mean OS of 23.4 months and PFS of 8.6 months versus 11.2 months and 4.6 months for those who had a brain biopsy performed. In addition, multivariable analysis showed that not involving deep structures and resection were favourable prognostic factors for PCNSL. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of patients with PCNSL treated in our cohort are still poor. In our series, surgical resection might play a role in significantly improving OS and PFS compared with stereotactic biopsy in a subset of patients. The type of surgery and tumour location are prognostic factors for PCNSL.

Pérdida de agudeza visual progresiva en paciente con proptosis. Caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Progressive visual impairment in a patient with proptosis. Case report and review of the literature.

Introducción: a raíz del siguiente reporte de caso clínico se pretende repensar el diagnóstico diferencial de los tumores orbitales y revisar la literatura existente al respecto. Caso: paciente de 54 años, fumadora, acude a nuestro centro por una pérdida de agudeza visual progresiva de dos años de evolución en el ojo derecho, que se acompañaba de proptosis. Las pruebas de imagen basadas en resonancia magnética y tomografía por emisión de positrones ­ tomografía computarizada (PET-TC) realizadas describían una lesión intraconal derecha de morfología indefinida, que rodeaba el nervio óptico. El estudio inmunohistoquímico y molecular anatomopatológico confirmó la sospecha de síndrome linfoproliferativo extranodal de bajo grado. Discusión: el manejo endoscópico de estas lesiones puede resultar en una menor comorbilidad en comparación con el abordaje externo tradicional. El papel de la cirugía radica en la obtención de una muestra de la lesión que permita un correcto diagnóstico. Conclusiones: el abordaje multidisciplinar con oftalmólogos, hematólogos y expertos en radioterapia permite obtener buenos resultados quirúrgicos y clínicos en la inmensa mayoría de casos.

Introduction: as result of the following clinical case report, we intend to review the differential diagnosis of orbital tumors and review the existing literature in this regard. Case report: a 54-year-old smoking patient, consulted to our department due to a progressive visual impairment over the last two years in her right eye. She presented proptosis in her clinical examination. Imaging studies based on MRI and PET-CT described a right intraconal lesion with an undefined morphology surrounding the optic nerve. Orbital tumors differential diagnosis is delicate. Nevertheless, Non-Hodgkin lymphomas followed by metastasis are the two most common found in this location. The immunohistochemistry and molecular studies, confirmed the suspected diagnosis of extranodal low-grade lymphoproliferative syndrome. Discussion: endoscopic management of these lesions may result in a lower comorbidity compared to traditional external approaches. Role of surgery lays in obtainment of a quality sample which allows a proper diagnosis. Conclusions: multidisciplinary approach with ophthalmologists, hematologists and radiotherapy experts enhance good surgical and clinical results in the vast majority of cases.

Distinct topographic-anatomical patterns in primary and secondary brain tumors and their therapeutic potential.

PURPOSE: Understanding the topographic-anatomical patterns of brain tumors has the potential to improve our pathophysiological understanding and may allow for anatomical tailoring of surgery and radiotherapy. This study analyzed topographic-anatomical patterns underlying neuroepithelial tumors, primary CNS lymphoma and metastases. METHODS: Any histologically confirmed supra- or infratentorial parenchymal neoplasia of one institution over a 4-year period was included. Using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging data, a detailed analysis of the topographic-anatomical tumor features was performed. Differences between neuroepithelial tumors, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and metastases were assessed using pairwise comparisons adjusted for multiple testing, upon significance of the omnibus test. RESULTS: Based on image analysis of 648 patients-419 (65%) neuroepithelial tumors, 28 (5%) PCNSL and 201 (31%) metastases-entity-specific topographic-anatomical patterns were identified. Neuroepithelial tumors showed a radial ventriculo-cortical orientation, inconsistent with the current belief of a growth along white matter tracts, whereas the pattern in PCNSL corresponded to a growth along such. Metastases preferentially affected the cortex and subcortical white matter of large arteries' terminal supply areas. This study provides a comprehensive anatomical description of the topography of NT, PCNSL and metastases intended to serve as a topographic reference for clinicians and neuroscientists. CONCLUSIONS: The identified distinct anatomical patterns provide evidence for a specific interaction between tumor and anatomical structures, following a pathoclitic concept. Understanding differences in their anatomical behavior has the potential to improve our pathophysiological understanding and to tailor therapy of brain tumors.

Primary gastric lymphoma: A report of 16 pediatric cases treated at a single institute and review of the literature.

Gastrointestinal tract is the most common extranodal site for childhood non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). However, primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) is very rare. We report our experience with PGL. Between 1972 and 2019, patients with PGL among 1696 NHL cases were evaluated retrospectively. Patient characteristics, treatments, and survival rates were recorded. We also reviewed the cases reported in literature. There were 16 PGL (11 males, five females) cases with a median age of 10 years. Most frequent complaints, similarly to the literature, were pain and vomiting. Hematemesis/melena and anemia were present in 20% of patients. Most common tumor location was antrum. Histopathological subtypes were Burkitt and non-Burkitt B-cell lymphoma in 43.75% and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) in 6.25% of cases while mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and low-grade lymphomas constitute 15.3% of cases reported in the literature. In our series, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was analyzed in only the case with MZL and found to be positive. However, H. pylori positivity was reported in 75% of the cases in the literature. H. pylori eradication, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were applied in one, 14, and five patients. Subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy/jejunostomy was performed in three patients. Gastrojejunostomy was done without tumor resection in two patients. Nine patients lived without disease for a median of 59 (12-252) months. Five-year EFS and OS were 69.6% and 64.3%, respectively. PGL constitutes 0.94% of our NHL cases. Interestingly, most of the cases in the literature were from Turkey. While adult PGL is mostly MALT lymphoma, most pediatric cases had high-grade histopathology. Although surgery and radiotherapy were applied earlier, chemotherapy alone is sufficient.

Upfront Surgery for Small Intestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The clinical significance of surgery for secondary small intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of resection for both primary and secondary small intestinal NHL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with small intestinal lymphoma who underwent surgical resection at our Institute between 2009 and 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. The clinicopathological and surgery-related factors were reviewed. We also analyzed their surgical outcomes such as postoperative complications, perforation rate, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: In total, 13 (65%) and 7 (35%) patients had primary and secondary lymphomas, respectively. A total of 70% of patients were diagnosed with aggressive-type lymphomas. A total of 15 (75%) patients had Lugano system stage IV. Only one (5%) patient experienced postoperative grade II deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The 3-year OS rate after surgery was 59.6%. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection prior to chemotherapy is a feasible and safe therapeutic strategy for small intestinal NHL.

A 14-year retrospective analysis of indications and outcomes of autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in regional Queensland: a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: The Townsville Hospital is a tertiary hospital in North Queensland with one of the largest regional transplant centres in Australia, performing primarily autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) for various haematological malignancies. AIMS: This single-centre, retrospective, observational study aims to describe the activity and outcomes of autologous HSCT at The Townsville Hospital between 2003 and 2017 to verify safety standards. METHODS: Patient-level data were collected, including demographics, frequency and indication for transplant, conditioning, current clinical status and cause of death. Key outcomes included overall survival, non-relapse mortality, incidence of therapy-related neoplasm and causes of death. Progression-free survival in the multiple myeloma (MM) subgroup was also assessed. RESULTS: There were 319 autologous HSCT in 286 patients, with a median age of 58 years (range 14-71 years); 62% of patients were male. Indications for transplantation were: MM 53.7%, non-Hodgkin lymphoma 29.4%, Hodgkin lymphoma 5.0% and other 11.9%. Causes of death were: disease progression/relapse (65.2%), second malignancy (17.0%), infection (9.8%) and other (8.0%). Non-relapse mortality was 1.2% (95% confidence interval 0.4-3.0) and 3.2% (1.7-5.7) at 100 days and 1 year, respectively, post-HSCT. Overall survival at 2 years was 81.0% (73.8-86.4) for MM and 69.6% (58.8-78.1) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The median progression-free survival in the MM cohort was 3.3 years. CONCLUSION: The Townsville Hospital transplant centre provides an important transplant service in regional Queensland, with outcomes comparable to national data. We reported a relatively high rate of second malignancy as a cause of death.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with Synovial Involvement of the Knee.

Musculoskeletal involvement occurs in approximately 25% of patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Skeletal involvement is typically secondary, with primary lymphoma of the bone being much rarer. We describe a case in which a 52-year-old man initially presented features suggestive of Lyme arthritis in his left knee. A synovial biopsy performed as part of a synovectomy procedure revealed a proliferative synovium with dense lymphoplasmacytic B cell infiltrate, suggestive of NHL. An inguinal lymph node biopsy was also performed but did not produce results pathologically similar to those of the left knee synovial biopsy.

Fertility preservation with successful pregnancy outcome in a patient with transplanted heart and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Fertility preservation must be discussed with reproductive age women before cancer treatment. Heart transplantation raises complex issues in pregnancy. Pregnancy in a heart transplant woman after pelvic irradiation involves close multidisciplinary follow-up to avoid complications in the mother and the foetus. We report the first live birth in a heart transplant woman after pelvic irradiation, chemotherapy and fertility preservation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old heart transplant woman with pelvic non-Hodgkin lymphoma spared her fertility, with cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos, before chemotherapy and pelvic irradiation. After multidisciplinary discussion and pre-conception evaluation, pregnancy was achieved. A close follow-up by a multidisciplinary team allowed a normal pregnancy without maternal or foetal complications and the delivery of a healthy infant. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving pregnancy in heart transplant women with iatrogenic ovarian failure after oncologic treatment including pelvic irradiation is possible and can be successful. Careful and close surveillance by a multidisciplinary team is mandatory due to increased risk of maternal and foetal complications.

Primary Pediatric Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Population-based Analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to present the clinical characteristics, natural history and survival outcomes of primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin lymphomas (PGINHL) in the pediatric population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for patients aged 0 to 19 years with PGINHL between 1973 and 2014. RESULTS: A total of 452 cases were identified [mean age 11.0 (±5.1)] years, whites 84.1%, males (76.5%). The majority of tumors were noted in the small bowel (SB) (47.6%), followed by large bowel (LB) (28.5%) and the stomach (10.0%). Overall, the most common histological subtype was Burkitt lymphoma (51.8%), followed by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (26.1%). Mean overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 33,33 years with a 5-yr, 10-yr and 30-yr survival rate of 86%, 86% and 79%, respectively. Large bowel tumors had the best long-term survival rates whereas; gastric tumors had the worst with 30-yr survival rate 84% and 74%, respectively. Overall, 328 (72.6%) patients received surgery. No significant survival difference was noted between patients who underwent surgery and those who did not. CONCLUSION: This study presents the largest dataset of pediatric PGINHL and describes the clinical features and outcomes of these patients in addition to summarizing the literature.

Linfoma no Hodgkin y cervicalgia atípica. A propósito de un caso / Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and atypical neck pain: a case report

La cervicalgia es un motivo de consulta muy frecuente en la consulta médica. Se sabe que al menos un 15% de la población activa y hasta el 40% de los profesionales de riesgo la presentan. Por otro lado, el linfoma óseo primario es una patología muy poco frecuente (menos del 1% de todos los tumores óseos malignos) y la asociación entre ambos ha sido pocas veces descrita. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente con clínica compatible con cervicalgia de un mes de evolución, que al examen físico destacaba dolor a la palpación de apófisis espinosas C2-C6 y contractura trapezoidal que no cedía con tratamiento habitual. Posterior a estudios de imagen patológicos, se interviene quirúrgicamente realizando exéresis de cuerpo vertebral C4 y masa tumoral epidural anterior más biopsia compatible con linfoma difuso de células grandes B. Buena evolución al tratamiento quirúrgico y radioterapia

Neck pain is a common reason for seeking medical attention. It affects at least 15% of the labor force and up to 40% of individuals whose occupation is hazardous. On the other hand, primary bone lymphoma is a very rare disease (less than 1% of all malignant bone tumors), and the relationship between the 2 has rarely been mentioned. We report the case of a patient who had a 1-month history of neck pain. The main symptom was pain on palpation of C2-C6 cervical spinous processes and contracture of the trapezius muscle that did not cease with conventional treatment. Imaging studies indicated an abnormality. He underwent surgery and the results of vertebral biopsy were compatible with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He was treated with radiotherapy with a good outcome

Surgical management of primary colonic lymphoma: Big data for a rare problem.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary colonic lymphoma (PCL) is rare, heterogeneous, and presents a therapeutic challenge for surgeons. Optimal treatment strategies are difficult to standardize, leading to variation in therapy. Our objective was to describe the patient characteristics, short-term outcomes, and five-year survival of patients undergoing nonpalliative surgery for PCL. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis in the National Cancer Database. Included patients underwent surgery for PCL between 2004 to 2014. Patients with metastases and palliative operations were excluded. Univariate predictors of overall survival were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: We identified 2153 patients. Median patient age was 68. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma accounted for 57% of tumors. 30- and 90-Day mortality were high (5.6% and 11.1%, respectively). Thirty-nine percent of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. For patients surviving 90 days, 5-year survival was 71.8%. Chemotherapy improved survival (surgery+chemo, 75.4% vs surgery, 68.6%; P = .01). Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with overall survival after controlling for age, comorbidity, and lymphoma subtype (HR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.07-1.51; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing surgery for PCL have high rates of margin positivity and high short-term mortality. Chemotherapy improves survival, but <50% receive it. These data suggest the opportunity for improvement of care in patients with PCL.

Concomitant occurrence of primary renal non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a colon cancer: A rare case report.

RATIONALE: Primary renal lymphoma (PRL) is a rare malignancy due to the absence of lymphatic tissues in the kidney, and patients with PRL have been reported to have a poor prognosis due to its rapid invasiveness and limited treatment strategies. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer, and has a high mortality rate. Both malignant diseases predominantly affected elderly men; however, a case with concomitant occurrence of the 2 cancers is extremely rare. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 78-year-old male patient with abdominal pain came to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) indicated malignant masses in the left kidney, left adrenal gland, and the lower part of the descending colon. DIAGNOSES: PRL and colon cancer were diagnosed based on pathological examinations. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and laparoscopic radical resection of colon cancer. OUTCOMES: The patient was then transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) because of poor condition after surgery. He died 3 months after discharge without receiving any other treatment. LESSONS: It is worth thinking about whether surgery was reasonable for elderly patients with double malignancies, or palliative treatment to improve the quality of life was more meaningful. This case also contributes to the understanding of the 2 malignancies and highlights the need to pay more attention to patients with multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMNs), explore genetic features, and investigate treatments with more survival benefits.

Impaired lymphocyte reconstitution after autologous transplant is associated with apoptosis of CD8+ T cells and adverse clinical outcome.

We noticed that the lymphocyte counts, after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, oscillated during the first 4 post-transplant months. Thereafter, the lymphocyte counts stabilized and segregated the patients into two groups, those who normalized their lymphocyte counts and those with prolonged lymphopenia. In both groups, the CD4 counts remained low for at least 6 months. However, in approximately half of the patient, the CD8 counts increased to normal or above normal values. Patients with prolonged lymphopenia had higher rates of lymphocytes' spontaneous apoptosis and the lymphocytes in patients who restored their counts expressed the intracellular CD14-derived MO2 epitope that protects the cells from apoptosis. These findings were translated to longer disease-free survival and overall survival in patients who restored the CD8 counts. Collectively, our data show that post-transplant lymphocytes that express intracellular CD14-MO2 epitope have survival advantage.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and atypical neck pain: A case report. / Linfoma no Hodgkin y cervicalgia atípica. A propósito de un caso.

Neck pain is a common reason for seeking medical attention. It affects at least 15% of the labor force and up to 40% of individuals whose occupation is hazardous. On the other hand, primary bone lymphoma is a very rare disease (less than 1% of all malignant bone tumors), and the relationship between the 2 has rarely been mentioned. We report the case of a patient who had a 1-month history of neck pain. The main symptom was pain on palpation of C2-C6 cervical spinous processes and contracture of the trapezius muscle that did not cease with conventional treatment. Imaging studies indicated an abnormality. He underwent surgery and the results of vertebral biopsy were compatible with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He was treated with radiotherapy with a good outcome.