Age-related differences among patients with follicular lymphoma and the importance of prognostic scoring systems: analysis from a population-based non-Hodgkin’slymphoma registry

Abstract

Background: The influence of age on the outcome of follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (FL) was studied in a population-based non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma registry. Patients and methods: This study comprised 214 follicular lymphoma patients. Grade I/II was considered separately from grade III FL. The data were analyzed with respect to three age groups: 70 years of age. The survival curve in grade III FL patients was shown to reach a plateau. The prognostic scoring system, according to the Italian Lymphoma Intergroup, fitted better to grade I/II patients, while the International Prognostic Index showed better discrimination amongst grade III patients. Conclusions: Separate grading for follicular lymphoma is useful. An age >70 years has a negative impact on outcome, but the contribution of concomitant disease herein is important. Different prognostic scoring systems should be applied to the different grades of FL.