Background: Clinical features and treatment outcomes of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) have rarely been reviewed due to its rarity and pathologic obscurity. Methods: We analyzed 20 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with IVLBCL at the Samsung Medical Center. Results: Initial manifestations were nonspecific, such as fever with cytopenia, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase and hypoalbuminemia. Hemophagocytosis was frequent and bone marrow was the most common site of pathologic diagnosis in our series. Hepatosplenomegaly, pleural effusion and ground-glass opacity in the lungs were also commonly found, and positron emission tomography imaging showed increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the involved organs. All patients received CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) or rituximab-CHOP. The median overall survival (OS) was 38.9 months (95% confidence interval 6.7-71.1). Rituximab-containing chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone resulted in higher 3-year OS (71.4 and 25.0%; p = 0.027). Patients with hemophagocytosis had a poorer 3-year OS compared to patients without hemophagocytosis (29.6 and 75%; p = 0.046). Prognostic factor analysis showed the association of pleural effusion with worse OS (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Treatment with rituximab-containing chemotherapy can improve the treatment outcome of IVLBCL. Pleural effusion may be a poor prognostic factor in patients with IVLBCL.

Keywords:
Intravascular B-cell lymphoma, Positron emission tomography/computerized tomography, Rituximab
© 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel
2013
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.