Parameters pointing to bone marrow involvement in lymphoma

A prospective study of fifty one lymphoma patients was carried out to assess bone marrow involvement. Positive bone marrow was found in 3 out of 23 patients [13%] with Hodgkin's disease. There were two parameters pointing to bone marrow involvement; mild anaemia [Hb > 9.0 g/dl] and raised serum alkaline phosphatase to more than 100 U/l. In 28 patients with non Hodgkin's lymphoma, there were 8 patients with positive bone marrow [28%]. Two parameters which pointed to bone marrow Involvement were also identified; circulating blast cells and widening of the mediastinum on cheat X-ray