Analysis of Clinical Characteristics for 24 Cases of Nodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma.

Objective To summarize and investigate the characteristics of nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL). <strong>Method</strong> The clinical data and laboratory characteristics of of NMZL patients admitted in our hospital between January 2002 and September 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. <strong>Results</strong> Twenty-four patients were enrolled in the study. The median age was 54.4 (28-70) years,and the male/female ratio was 1:1. Most of the patients (95%) had bone marrow involvement,40.9% (9/22) had elevated lactate dehydrogenase level,8.3% (2/24) had the positive expression of hepatitis C virus antibody,33.3% (6/18) had positive autoimmune antibodies,and 33.3% (8/24) had monoclonal immunoglobulins in the serum. All of the patients expressed CD19 and CD20 cell markers,whereas none of them expressed CD10 cell marker. The positive rate of CD5 marker was 10% (1/10),the positive rate of CD23 marker was 50% (5/10),whereas no patient had the expressions of both CD5 and CD23 at the same time. The total overall remission rate was 81.25%,and the total complete remission rate was 56.2%. The separate overall remission and complete remission rate had increasing trends in rituximab subgroup than subgroups without using rituximab(P=0.136,P=0.262).<strong>Conclusion</strong> NMZL has a low incidence and can be seen in both males and females. It often invades bone marrow. Rituximab may increase the response rate and even improve the progression free survival.