Children and adolescents with follicular lymphoma have an excellent prognosis with either limited chemotherapy or with a "Watch and wait" strategy after complete resection

Ann Hematol. 2013 Nov;92(11):1537-41. doi: 10.1007/s00277-013-1785-2. Epub 2013 May 12.

Abstract

Data on clinical features and outcome in pediatric follicular lymphoma (pFL) are scarce. The aim of this retrospective study including 13 EICNHL and/or i-BFM study group members was to assess clinical characteristics and course in a series of 63 pFL patients. pFL was found to be associated with male gender (3:1), older age (72 % ≥10 years old), low serum LDH levels (<500 U/l in 75 %), grade 3 histology (in 88 %), and limited disease (87 % stage I/II disease), mostly involving the peripheral lymph nodes. Forty-four out of sixty-three patients received any polychemotherapy and 1/63 rituximab only, while 17/63 underwent a "watch and wait" strategy. Of 36 stage I patients, 30 had complete resections. Only one patient relapsed; 2-year event-free survival and overall survival were 94 ± 5 and 100 %, respectively, after a median follow-up of 2.2 years. Conclusively, treatment outcome in pFL seems to be excellent with risk-adapted chemotherapy or after complete resection and an observational strategy only.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Data Collection / trends
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / surgery*
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Watchful Waiting / trends*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents