Contemporary insights into diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin lymphomas
Introduction
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most common site of extranodal primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for 20% to 40% of all extranodal lymphomas. The advanced stages at diagnosis and complications remain significant issues in NHL management, imposing a substantial disease burden on patients and healthcare systems.
Material and methods
We performed a descriptive cross-sectional and cohort study of patients with gastrointestinal NHL and a narrative review of the literature in the Discussion section. This study included 50 prospective and retrospective patients with NHL treated between 2015-2024 in the Institute of Oncology in Moldova. A bibliographic search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Hinari, SpringerLink, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and Medline. The final bibliography included 18 relevant sources deemed to be representative of the literature published on the topic of this article.
Results
According to the International Clinical Classification, most patients (22, 44.0%) were diagnosed with clinical stage IV. B symptoms occurred in 38 (76.0%) patients. The overwhelming predominance of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (46 cases - 90.2%) was observed. The complete blood count, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy of the iliac crest did not detect any specific changes in cases without bone marrow involvement, with the exception of a decrease in hemoglobin and erythrocyte counts observed in cases of posthemorrhagic anemia. The overall survival (OS) of all patients with gastrointestinal NHL was 78.1% at 1 year, 59.4% at 3 years, and 35.9% at 5 years. In patients with stage IE NHL, the 1-, 3-, and ≥5-year OS was 93.4%, 76.5%, and 69.9%, respectively. In patients with stage IIE, the OS was 91.2% at 1 year, 71.4% at 3 years, and 63.8% at ≥5 years. In patients with stage IIIE-IV, the OS was 75.1% at 1 year, 54.8% at 3 years, and 28.5% at ≥5 years with combined chemotherapy.
Conclusions
Our study demonstrated that non-Hodgkin lymphomas with primary involvement of the gastrointestinal tract exhibited distinct histopathological, clinical-evolutionary and hematological features, which influenced treatment outcomes. The aggressive histological types and the advanced stages IIIE and IV prevailed within the structure of non-Hodgkin lymphomas with primary gastrointestinal involvement, and, thus, negatively impacted the survival and prognosis.
Epidemiological data and diagnosis pitfalls in aggressive extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas: current issues
Introduction
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a group of malignant tumors that develop from hematopoietic cells located outside the medullary. They are one of the most common forms of hemoblastosis. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma develops in people of all ages. Morbidity of non-Hodgkin lymphoma increases with age reaching its highest level in people over 50 years of age.
Material and methods
A study was carried out through a narrative review of the literature in the form of a synthesis article. The article summarized and systematized various primary studies, dedicated to the epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of aggressive extranodal NHL.
Results
Aggressive extranodal NHL remains a major problem, with a fairly large increase in incidence globally. This trend is observed in several countries of the world; thus morbidity increases by 3% annually for women and by 4% for men. Globally, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma continues to affect the working-age population. Although patients with primary extranodal NHL tend to report to a medical specialist at a lower stage than those with primary ganglion disease, the number of those addressing in advanced stages continues to be increased.
Conclusions
Although diagnosing NHL does not involve great impediments, primary care physicians often detect patients in the late stages of the disease either because of delayed referral to the doctor or because of incorrect diagnosis. Despite the development of new methods of diagnosis and treatment, aggressive extranodal NHL continues to be a current problem of clinical medicine and public health, requiring increased managerial and financial efforts.