Conservative management of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood

Br J Haematol. 1998 Oct;103(1):220-3. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1998.00941.x.

Abstract

Among 447 children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) on the childhood U.K. registry, seven children with follicular (NHL) were identified. Four were male and their age ranged from 4.25 to 13.5 years (median 7.5); all had localized disease, Murphy's stage I (n = 4) and II (n = 3). Sites involved at presentation were cervical lymph nodes and tonsils (n = 5), ileum (n = 1) and parotid gland (n = 1). Three had complete surgical excision only and four had complete (n = 1) or incomplete excision (n= 3) followed by a short multi-agent chemotherapy regimen (UKCCSG 9001 protocol). With a median follow-up of 1.5 years (range 0.25-5 years) from diagnosis, six are alive in complete remission (CR) including three who had no chemotherapy. These results confirm previous reports that follicular lymphomas in children are rare (1.5%) and tend to be localized at presentation. Their rarity makes it difficult to produce guidelines about treatment, but in localized cases a period of non-intervention may be justified.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / therapy*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents