Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract: An analysis of 697 cases

Gynecol Oncol. 2017 May;145(2):305-309. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.02.043. Epub 2017 Mar 9.

Abstract

Objective: Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract (PLFGT) is a rare entity. The aim of this population-based study was to elucidate the clinico-pathological, demographic characteristics and survival of women with PLFGT.

Materials and methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was accessed and cases of PLFGT diagnosed between 1988 and 2012 were identified. Five-year overall (OS) and cancer-specific (CSS) survival rates were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. The influence of demographic and clinical parameters on survival was examined with the log-rank test. Factors independently associated with cancer-specific mortality were evaluated with a Cox proportional hazard model.

Results: A total of 697 women with PLFGT were identified with a median age of 54years. The most prevalent histological subtypes were diffuse large B-cell (59.8%) and follicular (11.9%) lymphoma. Tumors were most commonly located in the ovary (37%), cervix (21.4%), and uterus (16.5%). According to the Ann Arbor staging system, 42.6% and 17.9% of cases had stage I and stage II disease, respectively. Cancer-directed surgery (CDS) was performed in the majority of cases (62.8%). Five-year OS and CSS were 70.2% and 75.2% respectively. Localized disease, premenopausal age and follicular histology were associated with superior cancer-specific mortality while CDS did not confer any mortality benefit.

Conclusions: This is the largest cohort of PLFGT presented in literature. While in our study surgical treatment was not associated with improved outcomes, larger multi-institutional studies should address the optimal management of women with PLFGT.

Keywords: B-cell lymphoma; Cervix; Extranodal lymphoma; Lymphoma; Ovary; Uterus.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data
  • Black or African American
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / microbiology*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / mortality*
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / mortality*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • SEER Program
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data