Abstract • 193

During the last decades the incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) have changed significantly. The aim of this study was to review the incidence of disease, presenting clinical features and primary locations, prognostic factors and results of treatment according to stages.

We report 39 cases of NHL seen at our department from 1989 to 1998. The mean age of onset of disease was 6.9 years (range 2-16 years) with a male to female ratio of 2.9:1. Most cases (85%) presented with a mediastinal mass, 9% with abdominal involvement, the remainder with peripheral node, renal, or skin involvement. Most were high grade neoplasms. The predominating St. Jude stage at diagnosis was IV (61%); 50% had B symptomatology. Immunophenotyping was began in 1995. 66% of tumors were of B- and 33% of T-type histology. The observation period for all patients ranged from 18 months to 10 years. Complete remission rates were 38.6%; 7.6% relapsed, and 53.8% died.

Conclusions: This study shows that treatment outcome depends on the initial stage of the disease. T-lineage disease appears to have a better outcome. Since most NHL were diagnosed as stage IV disease, cure rates approach only 46 %.