pattern of bone marrow infiltration in non-hodgkin's lymphomas

ABSTRACT

The pattern of bone marrow infiltration in 40 consecutive cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas [NHLs] having marrow involvement is presented. For histological break-up, working formulation of NHLs was used. Low grade NHLs [50%] were the commonest, followed by intermediate [32.5%] and high grade NHLs [17.5%], respectively. Histologically small lymphocytic type [32.5%] was the commonest, followed by diffuse small cleaved cell [15%] type; follicle small cleaved cell, diffuse mixed small and large cell as well as lymphoblastic types were equally frequent [12.5% each]. Other histological types were less common. The pattern of infiltration of the bone marrow was diffuse in 76.7% of intermediate, 70% of low and 100% of high grade NHLs. It was focal random [non-paratrabecular] in 15% of low grade and 15.4% of intermediate grade NHLs. Focal paratrabecular pattern was evident in 15% of low grade and 7.7% of intermediate grade NHLs