Clinical features and outcomes of adrenal lymphoma

Objective To improve the understanding of adrenal lymphoma in clinicians by summarizing its clinical features and outcomes. Methods The clinical data about 22 patients with adrenal lymphoma (15 males and 7 females) at the age of 55.63±13.74 years admitted to our hospital from 1995 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were followed up. Results The course of adrenal lymphoma was 11 days-7 months when the patients visited our hospital. Of the 22 patients, 9 were diagnosed with primary adrenal lymphoma and 13 with secondary adrenal lymphoma, 21 were typed as non-Hodgkin's adrenal lymphoma and 1 as Hodgkin's adrenal lymphoma. The main symptoms were manifested as fever, abdominal and back pain, loss of body weight, skin pigmentation, weakness and aneroxia. Non-Hodgkin's B-cell adrenal lymphoma received CHOP therapy and Hodgkin's adrenal lymphoma underwent ABVD therapy after operation. Eighteen patients died with a follow-up survival time of less than 1 year. Conclusion The adrenocortical insufficiency may occur in patients with adrenal lymphoma with bilateral adrenal glands involved. Its diagnosis depends on acupuncture or pathological examination. The prognosis of adrenal lymphoma patients is poor. The survival time of such patients is usually less than 1 year after operation.