Outcome of Young Children with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

The incidence and biology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) vary according to age, and the outcome differs amongst children being less favorable in infants and adolescents.

To analyze the outcome and toxicity patterns of young children with NHL comparing patients aged < 10 years to those 10–18 years of age.

A retrospective review of children ≤ 18 years of age diagnosed with NHL over a period of 13 years. Patients were treated according to different protocols and treatment subgroups included: Burkitt lymphoma (BL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Post-organ transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) and immunodeficient patients were excluded.

From 01/1995 to 12/2008, 173 children with NHL were reviewed. Of these, 81 pts (47%) were <10 years of age, with BL (29 pts), DLBCL (5 pts), PTCL (6 pts), LL (27 pts), and ALCL (14 pts). The 10-year overall survival (OS) was 93. 6+2. 8% in patients aged < 10 years compared to 77. 3+7. 2 in patients 10–18 years of age (P=0. 02). The 10-year event-free survival (EFS) was 89. 4+3. 5% in patients aged < 10 years compared to 70+9. 3% in patients 10–18 years of age (P=0. 03). BL was the most common subtype in patients <10 years, with a 10-year EFS of 96. 4+3. 5% versus 82. 6+7. 9% in patients 10–18 years of age (P=0. 10). The most common subtype in patients 10–18 years of age was ALCL (36%), the 10-year EFS was 78. 5+8. 3 versus 92. 9+6. 9 in patients < 10 years (P=0. 29). Children 10–18 years of age were more likely to develop neurotoxicity (9. 7% vs 0%), gastrointestinal toxicity (30% vs 12%), and treatment-related mortality (4. 3% vs 2. 4%).

Children < 10 years with NHL have better outcomes and less treatment-related toxicity than older children.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.