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Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) presenting with intestinal involvement are prone to develop perforation. Identification of those who are at high risk for this complication would enable a rational-based decision regarding preemptive surgery. Although computed tomography (CT) is widely used at diagnosis, data regarding its ability to predict intestinal perforation are scanty. We performed a retrospective single-center study, including all consecutive DLBCL patients presented with intestinal involvement, assessing predictors for perforation with an emphasis on CT-related parameters. Forty-nine patients were included, 43 (88%) underwent CT scan at diagnosis. Ten patients (20%) developed intestinal perforation. A univariate regression analysis found increased risk among patients with a concentric, transmural lesion, and a longer involved intestinal segment. In conclusion, CT scan results can define patients with DLBCL and intestinal involvement who are at risk for perforation, suggesting that a preemptive surgical resection should be considered in these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a complex karyotype (CK) has frequent alterations in TP53 and a very poor prognosis. We examined whether a prompt and simple fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for 17p13 deletion at diagnosis has a predictive value for response to therapy and overall survival in subgroups of AML. In 15 patients with a normal karyotype the TP53 FISH analysis was normal, whereas in 16 patients with CK 75%% had only one copy of the TP53 allele. The deletion was also detected in 33%% of six patients with monosomy or partial monosomy of chromosome 5, 7, 9, or 12. This loss of TP53 correlated significantly with a poor response to chemotherapy, and the median survival time of these patients was shorter. TP53 FISH analysis carried out at diagnosis has a predictive value with respect to chemotherapy response and can therefore facilitate a rapid decision on treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Peripheral absolute monocyte count (AMC) has been reported to correlate with clinical outcome in different types of cancers. This association may relate to alteration in circulating monocytic subpopulations and tumor infiltrating macrophages. In this study we evaluated the clinical significance of peripheral AMC in 80 treatment naive patients with CLL. Measurement of AMC was based on direct morphological enumeration, due to our findings that complete blood count data may yield incorrect monocytes enumeration values in CLL. The median AMC in patients with CLL was within normal limits, however the AMC range exceeded the values of healthy individuals. The AMC trichotomized patients into 3 distinct sub-groups with different characteristics and outcomes. High AMC patients were younger and had higher absolute lymphocytes count, while patients with low AMC had prominent immune dysregulation (lower serum IgA levels, susceptibility to infections and a tendency for positive direct anti-globulin test). The low and high AMC patients had a shorter time to treatment compared to the intermediates AMC subgroups, whereas low AMC was associated with increased mortality caused by infectious complications. In conclusion, AMC quantification during the disease course classifies CLL patients into subgroups with unique clinical features and outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]