Diffuse well differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma: a clinical study of 22 patients.

An analysis is presented of the clinical and prognostic features of 22 patients diagnosed with diffuse well differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital between 1974 and 1987. At presentation, the disease was usually advanced with 86% of patients having stage IV disease and 73% of patients exhibiting bone marrow involvement. Ten second malignancies were documented in 7 (32%) of our patients. The goal of treatment in our patients was palliation except in the 2 stage 1 patients. The response rate to initial treatment was 55% (15% complete), although 75% of patients ultimately responded to some form of therapy; and the mean survival was 58 months, a figure not different from historical controls. There were no differences in survival between patients given simple versus complex therapy at diagnosis or at any time during the course of their disease; and no differences in survival between complete, partial and nonresponders.