[Lymphoma of the prostate: case reports and subject review]. / Il linfoma della prostata: contributo clinico e revisione dell'argomento.

Malignant lymphomas involving the prostate are rare whether as primary lymphoma or as secondary to generalized disease. Middle age, histotype prevalently non Hodgkin, intermediate and high grade of malignancy, symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction, diagnosis generally made after histological examination, severe prognosis are the most important features that result from literature review. The evaluation of therapeutic treatments is difficult as most reports do not include a sufficient number of cases. The Authors presenting two cases of lymphoma of the prostate point out the usefulness of radiotherapy since the prostate is usually a bulky seat of disease and suggest the combination with multiple drug chemotherapy for intermediate and high grade of malignancy and in advanced stages. The authors suggest that prognosis depends on histotype rather than on prostatic involvement of disease.

[Malignant histiocytosis. Clinical contribution and review of the subject]. / L'istiocitosi maligna. Contributo clinico e revisione dell'argomento.

Malignant histiocytosis (MH) is a rare and severe disease caused by malignant histiocyte degeneration in the sinuses of the reticuloendothelial system. The clinical picture presents fever, wasting, enlargement of the liver and spleen and lymphoadenopathy. Diagnosis is based on histological criteria and it may prove very difficult to differentiate between MH and malignant lymphomas, acute monocytic leukemia and the histiocytoses considered benign. The main features of the disease are described with comments on two personally experienced clinical cases. Emphasis is placed on the leukaemic aspect, the involvement of the CNS, the association, in one case, with sarcoidosis and the poor prognosis.