T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study of 21 cases and comparison with 43 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Clinicopathologic features of 21 patients with T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma (TCRBCL) were reviewed and compared to 43 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) to determine if there were distinguishing clinical characteristics and differences in response or survival to CHOP therapy. For the diagnosis of TCRBCL, the current WHO criteria was used. In all of our cases, the majority of cells are non-neoplastic T cells and <10% large neoplastic B cells are present. The initial pathologic diagnosis was nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (NLPHL) in two cases. Patients with TCRBCL were significantly younger (median: 46 years) and had a significantly higher incidence of B symptoms (62%), hepatomegaly (33%) and marrow infiltration (33%) at presentation when compared to DLBCL (P<0.03). The CR rate after treatment was 48% for TCRBCL patients versus 79% for the DLBCL (P<0.003). Although the CR rates in between the two groups are significant, the difference in 3 years survival rates in each CR groups was insignificant (80% versus 77%). The overall survival time in the two groups was 17 months. Event-free survival time in TCRBCL was 12 months, compared with 17 months in the DLBCL (P>0.05). The frequency of patients with TCRBCL achieving CR was 52.6% whereas that of patients with DLBCL was 79% (P<0.003). The TCRBCL 3 years event-free survival 48% and overall survival 64% were 63 and 72% for DLBCL, respectively.