Introduction
Peripheral blood film (PBF), Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and Bone marrow biopsy (BMB) is routinely performed to diagnose haematological diseases. Lymphoma is a primary malignant neoplasm of the lymphoid tissue, these malignant cells often originate in lymph nodes, presenting as an enlargement of the node (a tumor). It can also affect other organs in which case it is referred to as extranodal lymphoma. Extranodal sites include tonsil, thymus, waldyer's ring, gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, testis, skin, lungs and brain.1
Lymphomas constitute 55.6% of all hematological malignancy, of which NHL is more common i.e. 47.4% (87.4% of all lymphoma) and HL constituting 7.0% (12.6% of all lymphoma). In NHL B-cell lymphoma make most approximately 85% and T-cell lymphoma is remaining approximately 15%.2
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into four stages based on how far the disease has spread.
Stage I (early disease): the cancer is found only in a single lymph node or in one organ or area outside the lymph node.
Stage II (locally advanced disease): the cancer is found in two or more lymph node regions on one side of the diaphragm.
Stage III (advanced disease): the cancer involves lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm.
Stage IV (widespread disease): the cancer is found in several parts of one or more organs or tissues (in addition to the lymph nodes). Or, it is in the liver, blood or bone marrow.3
The prognosis therefore depends on the correct diagnosis and stage of the disease, which is established after examination of PBF and BMA, BMB along with other parameters.1 Bone marrow examination refers to the pathologic analysis of samples of bone marrow obtained by BMB (often called a trephine biopsy) and BMA. Bone marrow examination is useful in the diagnosis of haematological illness and staging of hematologic disease.4
In the present study PBF, BMA and BMB were done in those cases where diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma and non Hodgkin lymphoma has been made by cytomorphology following working formulation classification. The role of BMA and BMB along with peripheral blood film is to assess the stage of Lymphoma.5
The role of the blood smear in the case of lymphoma is to suggest a likely diagnosis or range of diagnosis, to indicate which additional tests should be performed and to provide a morphologic context without which immunophenotyping and other sophisticated investigations cannot be interpreted. In the present study, the concentration was be on the increased lymphocytosis and cytomorphology.5
The morphological assessment of aspirated or biopsy specimens of bone marrow is based on two principles. First, it has the organised structure such that in normal health, bone marrow cells display distinct numerical and spatial relationships to each other. Second, that the individual bone marrow cells have distinctive cytological appearances that reflect the lineage and stage of maturation. Each or all of these features may specifically be disordered in disease.6
Bone marrow sampling in lymphoma is done in a number of clinical settings:7
Staging of patients with diagnosis of lymphoma already established from other tissue site.
To establish an initial diagnosis of lymphoma in a patient with lymphadenopathy in deep sites, not readily accessible for biopsy.
Restaging of lymphoma patients to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment or for disease recurrence.
Evaluation of a patient with cytopenia (s), fever, and/or organomegaly in whom lymphoma is not specifically suspected.
Sampling of the marrow consists of either aspiration of the cellular component and/or acquirement of tissue fragments. Aspiration of the marrow, has been utilized for cytologic assessment, with analysis directed toward morphology and obtainment of a differential cell count.8
The pattern of infiltration can only be fully assessed using sections from trephine biopsy specimens. The major patterns can be seen, either alone or in combination. Such patterns are important in the differential diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders and can also be of prognostic significance. They are designated: (i) interstitial (ii) focal (iii) diffuse (iv) paratrabecular (v) mixed.9
Contraindications to BMA/ BMB a) Hemorrhagic disorders such as congenital coagulation factor deficiencies (eg, hemophilia), disseminated intravascular coagulation and concomitant use of anticoagulants. If a BMA or a BMB is absolutely indicated in these patients, then factor replacement or cessation of anticoagulation should be considered before the procedure, and the patient should be closely monitored for 24h post-procedure. b) Skin infection or recent radiation therapy at the sampling site. C)Bone disorders such as osteomyelitis or osteogenesis imperfecta.10
Objective
The objective was to find out the percentage and pattern of bone marrow involvement, along with peripheral blood changes in lymphoma.
Materials and Methods
The present study was conducted in the Pathology Department enrolling 60 patients including both indoor and outdoor , with microscopic diagnosis of Lymphoma after taking an informed consent. The sex and age of the patient was no criterion for the selection of cases. Detail history including name, age, sex, site of involvement, hepatosplenomegaly, allery to any drug, ongoing treatment or history of medication or treatment taken was recorded. Current and previous laboratory data was reviewed, and a peripheral blood smear examined, to validate the request for a bone marrow study. Request for BMA and BMB is made in already diagnosed cases of lymphoma whether patient has already received any treatment for lymphoma or its done for the first time. The investigations CBC, Reticulocyte Count, PBF, BMA and BMB were performed and recorded in all cases and the data was statistically analysed. The preferred site for bone marrow examination was posterior superior iliac spine. The required procedure were done under Aseptic condition after taking permission from institutional ethical committee and all the procedure were done according to the decleration of Helsinki. Optimal, adequate local anaesthesia, and proper technique with sterilized equipments was used to avoid the incidence of complications related to procedure. After the procedure was complete, the patient was asked to lie flat for 5–10 minutes to provide pressure over the procedure site. Simple analgesics were used to ease soreness, if present. Patients are also advised to avoid washing the procedure site for at least 24 hours after the procedure is completed.
Observations
The present study comprising of 60 cases of lymphoma is based on critical evaluation of BMA and trephine biopsy along with PBF findings. The patients of all ages and both the sexes were considered in the study. For the convenience, patients were divided age wise into 7 groups i.e. group 1 (0 -10years), group 2 (11-20 years), group 3 (21-30 years), group 4 (31-40 years), group 5 (41-50 years), group 6 (51-60 years) and group (above 60years).
In this study it was observed that the maximum number of patients 20 (33.33%) were of age group 51-60 years followed by 15(25%) patients of age group above 60 years . The males were more commonly affected i.e. 35 (58.3%) were male patients and rest 25 (41.7%) patients were females. The maximum number of 13 (37.1%) male patients were of age group above 60 years followed by 8 (22.9%) of age group 51-60 years, whereas the maximum number of 12 (48%) female patients were of age group 51-60 years, followed by 6 (24%) of age group 31-40 years. (Table 1)
Table 1
Distribution of males and females patients in different age groups
Table 2
| Presentation | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | Hodgkin Lymphoma | ||
| Number of Patients | Percentage | Number of Patients | Percentage | |
| Nodal | 43 | 81.1% | 7 | 100% |
| Extranodal | 10 | 18.9% | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 53 | 100% | 7 | 100% |
Distribution of cases with nodal and extranodal involvement in NHL and HL patients
53/60 cases were of NHL and 7 cases were of HL. In NHL 43/53 (81.1%) cases presented with nodal enlargement and 10/53 (18.9%) cases had extranodal presentation. In cases of HL, none had extranodal presentation and all the cases i.e. 7/7 (100%) cases presented with nodal enlargement. (Table 2)
Table 3
Correlation of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) on PBF
19/60 (31.66%) cases of lymphoma showed increase in ALC in PBF examination. On analyzing we found that these 19/60 (31.66%) cases showing increase were of NHL type. So, 19 /53 (35.8%) cases showed increased ALC in NHL while none (0%) case showed increased level of ALC in HL on PBF examination. (Table 3 , Figure 1)
Figure 1
Photomicrograph showing increased TLC with lymphocytosis in PBF of lymphoma patient (Leishman’s stain 40X)
Table 4
Distribution of cases on the basis of percentage lymphocyte count in marrow (BMA) IN NHL and HL cases
On BMA, we found that 16/60(26.7%) cases showed increase and 1 /60 (1.66%) case showed borderline and rest 43/60 cases showed normal percentage lymphocyte count in Marrow differential count. On further evaluating we found that the cases with increased and borderline percentage lymphocyte count were of NHL type and none was of HL type. (Table 4 , Figure 4, Figure 3, Figure 2)
Figure 2
ShowingBM particle with predominance of Mononuclear cells in BMA smear of lymphoma patients (Leishman's stain 100X)
Figure 3
Photomicrograph showing hypercellular BM with increased lymphocytes in BMA smear of lymphoma patients (Leishman’s stain 400X)
Table 5
Distribution of cases of NHL and HL with bone marrow involvement (BMI) by lymphoma: on the basis of bone marrow examination on BMB
In this study out of 60 cases of lymphoma, 17/60 (28.3%) cases confirmed bone marrow involvement by lymphoma on BMB and 43/60 (71.7%) cases do not showed bone marrow involvement. On analyzing we found that these 17 cases were of NHL type. These cases were the same those revealed increased and borderline lymphocyte percentage count on marrow differential on BMA. (Table 5)
Table 6
| Pattern | Number of Patients | Percentage |
| Diffuse | 7 | 41.2% |
| Paratrabecular | 6 | 35.3% |
| Interstitial | 1 | 5.9% |
| Nodular | 0 | 0% |
| Mixed | 3 | 17.6% |
| Total | 17 | 100% |
Distribution of bone marrow involved cases on the basis of pattern of involvement in BMB
Out of 17 cases with bone marrow involvement, maximum number 741.2%) cases showed diffuse pattern of bone marrow involvement, followed by 6 (35.3%) cases showed paratrabecular pattern of involvement, 3(17.6%) cases showed mixed pattern of involvement, 1(5.9%) case showed interstitial pattern of involvement and none showed nodular pattern of involvement. (Table 6 , Figure 6, Figure 5)
Figure 5
Photomicrograph showing hypercellularity in thin section of BMB of patient of lymphoma with BM involvement by lymphoma showing diffuse pattern of involvement (H & E stain 100X)
Figure 6
Photomicrograph showing thin section of BMB of patient of lymphoma with BM involvement by lymphoma showing diffuse pattern of involvement (H & E stain 400X)
Figure 7
Photomicrograph showing mildly hypercellularity in thin section of BMB of patient of lymphoma with BM involvement by lymphoma showing paratrabecular pattern of involvement (H & E stain 100X)
Figure 8
Photomicrograph showing thin section of BMB of patient of lymphoma with BM involvement by lymphoma showing paratrabecular pattern of involvement (H & E stain 400X)
Figure 9
Photomicrograph showing hypercellularity in thin section of BMB of patient of lymphoma with BM involvement by lymphoma showing mixed pattern of involvement (H & E stain 100X)
Figure 10
Photomicrograph showing thin section of BMB of patient of lymphoma with BM involvement by lymphoma showing interstitial pattern of involvement (H & E stain 400X)
Table 7
| Bone marrow involvement | ALC increased | ALC normal | ||
| Number of Patients | Percentage | Number of Patients | Percentage | |
| Present | 17 | 89.5% | 0 | 0% |
| Absent | 2 | 10.5% | 41 | 100% |
| Total cases | 19 | 100% | 41 | 100% |
Correlation of absolute lymphocyte count and bone marrow involvement in 60 cases of lymphoma
In the present study, out of 19 cases with increased absolute lymphocyte count, 17(89.5%) cases showed bone marrow involvement by lymphoma and 2(10.5%) cases do not showed bone marrow involvement. These 2 cases might be due some other reason of lymphocytosis. All these 17 patients with bone marrow involvement showed ALC level increased.
Out of 41 cases with normal absolute lymphocyte count, none showed bone marrow involvement by lymphoma. (Table 7)
Table 8
| Percentage lymphocyte count in marrow | BMI Present | BMI Absent | ||
| Number of Patients | Percentage | Number of Patients | Percentage | |
| Increased | 16 | 94.1% | 0 | 0% |
| Normal | 1 | 5.9% | 43 | 100% |
| Total | 17 | 100% | 43 | 100% |
Correlation between percentage lymphocyte count in marrow with bone marrow involvement
In this study out of 17 cases with bone marrow involvement by lymphoma, 16(94.1%) cases showed increased percentage lymphocyte count in marrow on bone marrow aspiration but 1(5.9%) case showed borderline percentage lymphocyte count in marrow differential which was confirmed for involvement on BMB. 43 cases of lymphoma without bone marrow involvement by lymphoma showed normal percentage lymphocyte count in marrow differential. (Table 8)
Discussion
The present study was conducted in the department of Pathology, constituted examination of PBF, BMA and BMB in 60 cases of lymphoma. The results were scrutinized, compared and evaluated.
Types of lymphoma
Out of 60 cases of lymphoma, 53 cases (88.3%) were of NHL and 7 cases (11.7%) were of HL. The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 9
Comparison of cases of lymphoma with other studies
In the present study 88.3% cases of lymphoma were of NHL and 11.7% cases were of HL. Hence, a preponderance of NHL was observed. These results were comparable with results of previous such studies. The study by Durosinmi et al11 showed NHL in 80% and HL in 20%, Sukpanichnant12 reported NHL in 92.1% and HL in 7.9%, Jeong et al13 observed NHL was in and HL in 6.7%, Sovani et al14 showed NHL in 94.3% and HL in 5.7%, Goyal et al 15 found NHL in 73.9% and HL in 26.1%, Mondal et al16 reported NHL in 76.3% and HL in 23.7% of cases. The results of the present study most closely matched the results of study done by Sukpanichnant.12
Presentation of NHL
In the present study out of 53 cases of NHL, the cases with nodal manifestation were 43(81.1%) and the cases with extranodal manifestation were 10 (18.9%). The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 10
| Author and year of study | Non- Hodgkin Lymphoma | |
| Nodal | Extranodal | |
| Hassan et al17 | 85% | 15% |
| Krol et al18 | 80% | 20% |
| Padhi et al 19 | 78% | 22% |
| Mondal et al11 | 72.3% | 27.7% |
| Present study | 81.1% | 18.9% |
Comparison of nodal and extranodal manifestation of non- hodgkin lymphoma cases with other studies
In the present study 81.1% cases of NHL were nodal and 18.9% cases were extranodal. Hence, preponderance of nodal manifestation was observed. The results were comparable with the results of studies done by Hassan et al17 in which nodal presentation was in 85% and extranodal was in 15% of cases, Krol et al18 in which nodal presentation was in 80% and extranodal in 20% of cases, Padhi et al. 19 in which nodal presentation was in 78% and extranodal in 22% of cases, and Mondal et al16 in which nodal presentation was in 72.3% and extranodal was in 27.7% of cases. The results of the present study most closely matched the results of the study done by Krol et al.18 (Table 10)
Presentation of HL
In the present study out of 7 cases of HL, all the cases (100%) were with nodal presentation and no case (0%) had extranodal presentation. The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 11
| Author and year of study | Hodgkin Lymphoma | |
| Nodal | Extranodal | |
| Avila et al 20 | 96% | 4% |
| Mondal et al11 | 100% | 0% |
| Present study | 100% | 0% |
Comparison of nodal and extranodal presentation of hodgkin lymphoma cases with other studies
In the present study all the cases of HL was with nodal presentation, hence, preponderance of nodal presentation was observed. The results were comparable with the results of studies done by Avila et al20 in which nodal presentation was in 96% and extranodal in 4% of cases, and Mondal et al16 in which nodal presentation was in 100% of cases and extranodal in 0% of cases. The results best matched the results of the study done by Mondal et al.16 (Table 11)
Gender distribution in NHL
Out of 53 patients of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 30 cases (56.6%) were males and 23 cases (43.4%) were females. The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 12
| Author and year of study | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | |
| Males | Females | |
| Hassan et al17 | 65% | 35% |
| Durosinmi et al16 | 66.6% | 33.3% |
| Kumar et al21 | 66.6% | 33.3% |
| Present study | 56.6% | 43.4% |
Comparison of the cases by gender wise distribution with other studies
In the present study 56.6% cases of NHL were males and 43.4% cases were females. Thus, male preponderance was seen in the present study. The results were comaparable with the results of Hassan et al17 in which males were 65% and females were 35%, Durosinmi et al11 in which males were 66.6% and females were 33.3%, and Kumar et al21 in which males were 66.6% and 33.3% were females. The results of this study most closely matched with the results of study done by Hassan et al.17 (Table 12)
Gender distribution in HL
Out of 7 patients of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 5 cases (71.4%) were males and 2 cases (28.6%) were females. Male predominance was seen in the present study. The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 13
| Author and year of study | Hodgkin Lymphoma | |
| Males | Females | |
| Durosinmi et al16 | 50% | 50% |
| Anunobi et al 22 | 64% | 36% |
| Mondal et al11 | 81.5% | 18.5% |
| Present study | 71.4% | 28.6% |
Comparison of the cases by gender wise distribution with other studies
In the present study 71.4% cases of HL were males and 28.6% were females. Hence, male preponderance seen in the present study. The results were comparable with the results of Durosinmi et al11 in which both males and females were 50%, Anunobi et al 22 in which males were 64% and females were 36%, and Mondal et al16 in which males were 81.5% and females were 18.5%. The results of the present study most closely matched the results of the study done by Anunobi et al.22 (Table 13)
Peripheral blood involvement in lymphoma
In the present study of 60 cases of lymphoma, 19(31.7%) cases showed peripheral blood involvement (lymphocytosis and increased absolute lymphocyte count) and 41 cases (68.3%) did not show any peripheral blood changes. The results of this study were compared with other studies where were as follows:
Table 14
| Author and year of study | Peripheral blood film changes | |
| Present | Absent | |
| Arber and George23 | 29% | 71% |
| Sovani et al13 | 37.1% | 62.9% |
| Present study | 31.7% | 68.3% |
Comparison of the peripheral blood involvement in cases lymphoma cases with other studies
In the present study 31.7% of cases of lymphoma had peripheral blood involvement. These results were comparable with results of previous such studies. Study done by Arber and George23 showed peripheral blood involvement in 29% of cases and Sovani et al14 reported peripheral blood involvement in 37.1% of cases. The results of the present study most closely matched the results of the study done by Arber and George.23 (Table 14)
Bone marrow involvement in NHL
In the present study of 60 cases of lymphoma, 53 cases were of NHL. Out of 53 cases of NHL, 17(32.1%) cases showed bone marrow involvement and 36 cases(67.9%) did not show bone marrow involvement. The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 15
Comparison of the bone marrow involvement in cases of non-hodgkin lymphoma cases with other studies
In the present study 32% cases of NHL showed BMI which was comparable with results of Baroni et al24 in which BMI was in 21.8% cases, Haddy et al25 in which BMI was in 18.9% cases, Lai et al26 in which BMI was in 30% cases, Conlan et al27 in which BMI was in 32% cases, Juneja et al28 in which BMI was in 38% cases, Campbell et al29 in which BMI was in 27% cases, Mondal et al16 (2014) in which BMI was in 30.3% cases. The results of the present study best matched the results of the study done by Conlan et al.27 (Table 15)
Bone marrow involvement in HL
In the present study of 60 cases of lymphoma, 7 case were of HL. Out of 7 cases of HL, no case showed bone marrow involvement. The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 16
Comparison of the bone marrow involvement in cases of hodgkin lymphoma cases with other studies
In the present study none of the case of HL showed bone marrow. The results were compared with the results of study done by Bartl et al30 in which BMI was reported in 10% of cases, Ellis et al31 in which BMI was observed in 7.1% of cases, Marisavljevic et al32 in which BMI was in 10.2% of cases, Howell et al33 in which BMI was in 5.2% of cases, Kini et al34 in which BMI was in 10% cases and Mondal et al16 in which BMI was in 9.3% of cases. The present study was done on the limited number of 60 cases of lymphoma and out of these 60 cases only 7 cases were of HL.(Table 16)
Pattern of bone marrow involvement on BMB in lymphoma
In the present study of 60 cases of lymphoma, 17 cases showed bone marrow involvement. Out of these 17 cases, diffuse pattern of involvement was observed in 7 cases (41.2%), followed by 6 cases (35.3%) of paratrabecular pattern, 3 cases (17.6%) of mixed pattern, 1 case (5.9%) of interstitial pattern and none had nodular pattern of infiltration. The results of this study were compared with other studies which were as follows:
Table 17
Comparison of frequency of pattern of involvement in cases of lymphoma with other studies
In the present study the maximum number of (41.2%) cases showed diffuse pattern of involvement, followed by paratrabecular pattern (35.3%). Interstitial pattern was in 5.9% cases, mixed pattern was in 7.6% of cases and none case (0%) was of nodular pattern of involvement. The results were comparable to the results of Li et al35 in which 44.9% cases had diffuse pattern, 29.3% cases had paratrabecular pattern, 11.6% cases had interstitial pattern, 6.1% cases had nodular pattern, 8.1% cases had mixed pattern and Jeong et al16 in which 40% cases had diffuse pattern, 34.5% cases had paratrabecular pattern, 20% cases had interstitial pattern, 5.5% cases had nodular pattern, 0% cases had mixed pattern. In all the studies there was seen preponderance of the diffuse pattern of involvement followed by patratrabecular pattern.(Table 17)
Summary
In the present study 60 cases of lymphoma were evaluated by PBF involvement, BMA and BMB examination. There were 35(58.33%) males and 25(41.67%) females with male to female ratio 1.4:1.
Out of 60 cases of lymphoma, 53 (88.3%) cases were of NHL and 7 (11.7%) cases were of HL. In 53 cases of NHL 43(81.1%) cases were with nodal presentation and 10(18.9%) cases were with extranodal presentation. In the study all the 7 cases of HL had nodal presentation. In both NHL and HL male preponderance was observed with male to female ratio of 1.3:1 and 2.5:1 respectively. Most common age group involved in NHL was 51-60 years and In HL was 31-40 years.
Out of 60 cases of lymphoma 19(31.7%) cases showed peripheral blood involvement with leucocytic lymphocytosis.
On BMA 41 (68.3%) cases showed hypercellular marrow and 19 (31.7%) cases showed normocellular. Percentage lymphocytes in marrow differential count was increased in 16 (26.7%) of cases and 44 (73.3%) cases had percentage lymphocyte count within normal limits. Out of these 44 cases, 1 case was having borderline percentage lymphocyte count. 16 cases were reported with bone marrow involvement by lymphoma on BMA and 1 case with borderline percentage lymphocyte count was reported as bone marrow involved case, after examining the BMB.
On BMB 40(66.7%) cases were hypercellular and 20 (33.3%) cases were normocellular . Bone marrow involvement was present in 17(28.3%) cases, out of 60 cases of lymphoma. The diffuse pattern of involvement was in 7(41.2%) cases, followed by paratrabecular pattern in 6 (35.3%) cases, 3(17.6%) cases with mixed pattern and 1(5.9%) case with interstitial pattern of bone marrow involvement. Preponderance of diffuse pattern of involvement was present, followed by paratrabecular pattern of BM involvement in this study.
Conclusion
Examination of the peripheral blood film and bone marrow is one of the diagnostic pillars in haematological disorders. Bone marrow examination give valuable information in lymphoma, about disease burden, percentage of involvement, pattern of involvement and baseline involvement prior to therapy, which will be useful to establish the stage and therapy of the patient. Bone marrow aspiration gives more clear cytomorphological details whereas Bone marrow biopsy give more accurate picture of extent of involvement and architectural pattern Bone marrow aspiration often not very helpful as it may be falsely negative but provides wonderful cytomorphological details. Thus to conclude bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are complimentary to each other.
