The Korean Journal of Hematology最新文献

{"title":"Celebrating the world blood donor day 2012.","authors":"Sunhee Kim","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.3.159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.3.159","url":null,"abstract":"Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health, but not every country in the world provides an adequate environment for promoting safe transfusion. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)'s blood safety fact sheet, there is a huge difference in the number of blood donations between countries with high and low incomes. Approximately 92 million blood donations are collected each year, half of which were made in high-income countries, which comprise only 15% of the world's population. In 2008, 100% of national blood supplies were sourced through voluntary unpaid blood donations in only 62 countries. Another 40 countries collected less than a quarter of their blood supplies from voluntary unpaid blood donors. To the astonishment of many, 39 countries were not able to screen all donated blood for 1 or more of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. In Korea, more than 30 blood donations per 1,000 people were made in 2008, of which 100% were voluntary unpaid blood donations. These statistics are well above the average for other Asian countries and parallel to those in other high-income developed countries. Korea is continuously putting efforts in ensuring and improving safety in blood donation and transfusion. \u0000 \u0000Realizing that blood safety is the index of public health, the WHO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have worked hard for years to promote voluntary unpaid blood donations around the world. In company with the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFBDO) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), the WHO and the IFRC have created a special day to pay tribute to those people worldwide who give their blood freely and anonymously so that the lives of many patients can be saved. \u0000 \u0000At the 58th World Health Assembly, the WHO designated the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) as an annual event to be held each year on June 14. This is a day to inspire people to express gratitude for those who donate blood voluntarily and to encourage both voluntary donors and others who give blood regularly. This day is also intended to promote national voluntary programs, thereby eliminating dependency on family members and paid donors, and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donation throughout the year in order to maintain adequate supplies for patients requiring transfusions. \u0000 \u0000Since the first WBDD in 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa, this day has become an enormously successful worldwide festival that is celebrated in many countries. Various activities to show appreciation to regular voluntary donors and raise awareness regarding the importance of blood donation are conducted. These activities help to increase public interest by emphasizing the importance of voluntary non-remunerated blood donation via global campaigns. \u0000 \u0000The theme of the WBDD 2012 campaign was \"Every blood donor is a hero,\" focusing on the idea that everyone can become a hero by giving blo","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 3","pages":"159-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.3.159","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30981946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ZBTB16-RARα variant of acute promyelocytic leukemia with tuberculosis: a case report and review of literature.","authors":"Anshu Palta,&nbsp;Pratibha Dhiman,&nbsp;Sanjay D Cruz","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.3.229","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.3.229","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 23-year-old male presented with pulmonary tuberculosis and swelling of both lower limbs. He was put on antitubercular treatment. Hemogram showed mild anemia and Pseudo Pelger-huet cells. The bone marrow (BM) examination showed 52% promyelocytes with regular round to oval nuclei, few granules and were positive for CD13 and CD33, and negative for HLA-DR. Cytogenetic analysis of the BM aspirate revealed an apparently balanced t(11;17)(q23;q21). Final diagnosis rendered was acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with t(11;17)(q23;q21); ZBTB16/RARA. APL is a distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. The variant APL with t(11;17)(q23;q21) cases that are associated with the ZBTB16/RARA fusion gene have been reported as being resistant to all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Therefore, differential diagnosis of variant APL with t(11;17)(q23;q12) from classical APL with t(15;17)(q22;q12); PML-RARA is very important. Here we have discussed the importance of distinct morphology of variant APL and also significance of rare presentation with tuberculosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 3","pages":"229-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.3.229","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30981246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in hematologic indices in caucasian and non-caucasian pregnant women in the United States.","authors":"Sarah K Harm,&nbsp;Mark H Yazer,&nbsp;Jonathan H Waters","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The objective of this study was to determine if there are differences in common red blood cell (RBC) indices and platelet concentrations during pregnancy and to establish if any observed differences in these parameters were based on the patient's ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From an electronic perinatal database which stores laboratory and clinical information on a large number of births at a regional hospital specializing in obstetrical care, RBC index and platelet concentration data were retrospectively analyzed at various time points throughout pregnancy. RBC index data was collected from 8,277 pregnant women (5,802 Caucasian pregnant women and 2,475 non-Caucasian pregnant women). Platelet concentration data was available from 8252 pregnant women (5,784 Caucasian pregnant women and 2,468 non-Caucasian pregnant women).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hemoglobin (HGB) levels were significantly higher amongst Caucasian women compared to non-Caucasian women (P at least <0.01) starting at 27 weeks gestation and proceeding until term. There was no significant difference in the mean PLT counts between Caucasian and non-Caucasian pregnant women at any point during gestation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There are ethnic differences in HGB levels, but not the platelet concentrations, during pregnancy. Based on this finding it would be reasonable to conduct formal prospective studies to determine the clinical significance of this difference and to establish the threshold for diagnosing gestational anemia, especially in pregnant non-Caucasian women.</p>","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"136-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.136","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relapse pattern and prognostic factors for patients with primary CNS lymphoma.","authors":"Cheolwon Suh,&nbsp;Jeong Eun Kim,&nbsp;Dok Hyun Yoon","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.155","url":null,"abstract":"THE AUTHORS' REPLY: We thank Dr. Dahiya and his co-investigator for their interest in our paper. We totally agree with Dr. Dahiya on the importance of patient characteristics for evaluating the outcome of chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (CTx-ASCT) for primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). \u0000 \u0000We compared the baseline characteristics of all patients, except 3 patients who received best supportive care only (Table 1). Age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), and international prognostic index (IPI) of patients who received CTx-ASCT were not significantly different from those of patients who received other treatments. Complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) was shown by 100%, 62.1%, and 84.6% of the patients treated with CTx-ASCT, CTx only, and CTx followed by whole brain radiotherapy (CTx-WBRT), respectively [1]. The selection bias due to exclusion of patients who were refractory to chemotherapy might have contributed to the better outcome of CTx-ASCT. Nonetheless, 5 of the 18 patients who showed PR after CTx achieved CR after ASCT, suggesting that ASCT might have improved the clinical outcomes in these patients. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000Table 1 \u0000 \u0000Characteristics of patients who received different treatments (N=62). \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000Characteristics (Age, ECOG PS, and IPI) of patients who received CTx-WBRT and CTx-ASCT were not significantly different (Table 2), but compared to CTx-WBRT, CTx-ASCT had better response, as shown in our previous report [1]. We did not assess the risk of neurotoxicity due to lack of data, but the risk of acute and late neurotoxicity after WBRT is well described by previous studies [2-4]. A previous study showed that CTx-WBRT affords the benefit of improved progression-free survival, but the increased risk of neurotoxicity limits this benefit [5]. Our study has limitations of retrospective design, such as patient selection bias and lack of data on treatment-related toxicity including neurotoxicity; therefore, the benefits of ASCT after CTx should be verified by a prospective analysis. However, such a prospective trial would be difficult to conduct, considering the rarity of PCNSL, different treatment strategies in different institutions, and treatment-related toxicities. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000Table 2 \u0000 \u0000Comparison of characteristics of patients who received subsequent treatment after chemotherapy (N=31). \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000In conclusion, CTx-ASCT improves outcomes in PCNSL patients and results in better response rate and failure free survival, as shown by multivariate analysis conducted for a single center cohort of patients treated with relatively consistent treatment strategies. Further, the baseline characteristics of patients who received different treatments were similar.","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"155-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.155","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is radioimmunotherapy a 'magic bullet'?","authors":"Sung-Hyun Kim","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.85","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.85","url":null,"abstract":"Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) uses monoclonal antibodies directed against specific tumor antigens that are labeled with a particle-emitting radioisotope to deliver radiation directly to tumors (Fig. 1). Lymphoma is a good model for elucidating the effect of RIT because more than 90% of lymphoma B-cells express the cell-surface antigen CD-20. The 2 therapeutic agents for the management of lymphoma currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan and 131I tositumomab. FDA-labeled indications for RIT are the treatment of relapsed or refractory CD20+ follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and consolidation therapy in patients with follicular NHL who have shown a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy [1]. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000Fig. 1 \u0000 \u0000Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) using monoclonal antibodies labeled with a radioisotope emitting gamma- or beta- rays. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) conditioning administered in association with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) or reduced-intensity conditioning with allogeneic stem cell transplantation are established treatment approaches for patients with chemotherapy-sensitive, relapsed, aggressive, or low-grade NHL. These approaches have been shown to be the only curative options for patients with relapsed NHL. Despite significant advances in ASCT, relapses occur in many patients receiving HDC in conjunction with ASCT because of contaminated grafts or cancer cells remaining in the patient after ablative chemotherapy. The role of RIT in conditioning therapy with stem cell transplantation for NHL is not yet established [2]. \u0000 \u0000The current issue of the Korean Journal of Hematology includes a comparative study of this controversial issue. Jo et al. report that the use of ibritumomab tiuxetan in combination with busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (BuCyE) as a conditioning regimen elicited similar hematologic side effects and was associated with a potential benefit in efficacy when compared to treatment with BuCyE alone [3]. Although this study was not designed to evaluate the effect of the conditioning regimen on patient survival, the findings of this study indicate shorter event-free survival and overall survival than those reported by previous studies conducted in Western countries. As the authors point out, most patients in this study had heavily pretreated aggressive lymphomas, and poorer risk factors, which may have contributed to these results. Han et al. previously reported that tandem consolidation therapy using 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan followed by HDC with ASCT was not feasible for the treatment of high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in remission after treatment with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), because of poor efficacy [4]. \u0000 \u0000Further studies are needed to determine whether ethnic differences in tumor biology affect survival. Well-designed randomized controlled trial","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"85-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.85","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Massive iron-loaded histiocytosis.","authors":"Sun Young Cho,&nbsp;Tae Sung Park","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.91","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.91","url":null,"abstract":"which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. A 57-year-old man was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (refractory anemia with excess blasts [RAEB]-2) in April, 2007. As leukopenia gradually aggravated along with pneumonia overlap, we suspended the 12 th cycle of azacitidine therapy and administered intermittent transfusion therapy. Biochemical profiles for iron metabolism, including serum iron (166 μg/dL), total iron binding capacity (188 μg/dL), transferrin saturation (88.30%), and ferritin (3,223 μg/dL), showed iron overload because of prolonged transfusion therapy. However, transfusion therapy was inevitably continued with administration of an iron chelating agent. The patient also received at least 100 units of packed RBCs and 48 units of platelet concentrates. Follow-up bone marrow study in December 2010 showed fibrosis and markedly increased cellularity, which mostly consisted of histiocytes with extremely high iron load. Since iron overload is usually metabolized in the reticuloendothelial system, mainly the liver and spleen, cases of massive bone marrow involvement of secondary hemochromatosis are rare. Iron staining using Prussian blue showed accumulated iron granules in the histiocyte cytoplasm as large bright blue siderosomes (arrows).","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.91","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arsenic trioxide induces depolymerization of microtubules in an acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line.","authors":"Jin Ho Baek,&nbsp;Chang Hoon Moon,&nbsp;Seung Joo Cha,&nbsp;Hee Soon Lee,&nbsp;Eui-Kyu Noh,&nbsp;Hawk Kim,&nbsp;Jong-Ho Won,&nbsp;Young Joo Min","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) is a well-known and effective treatment that can result in clinical remission for patients diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The biologic efficacy of As(2)O(3) in APL and solid tumor cells has been explained through its actions on anti-proliferation, anti-angiogenesis, and apoptotic signaling pathways. We theorize that As(2)O(3) activates a pathway that disrupts microtubule dynamics forming abnormal, nonfunctioning mitotic spindles, thus preventing cellular division. In this study, we investigated how As(2)O(3) induces apoptosis by causing microtubule dysfunction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cultured NB4 cells were treated with As(2)O(3), paclitaxel, and vincristine. Flow cytometric analysis was then performed. An MTT assay was used to determine drug-mediated cytotoxicity. For tubulin polymerization assay, each polymerized or soluble tubulin was measured. Microtubule assembly-disassembly was measured using a tubulin polymerization kit. Cellular microtubules were also observed with fluorescence microscopy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As(2)O(3) treatment disrupted tubulin assembly resulting in dysfunctional microtubules that cause death in APL cells. As(2)O(3) markedly enhanced the amount of depolymerized microtubules. The number of microtubule posttranslational modifications on an individual tubulin decreased with As(2)O(3) concentration. Immunocytochemistry revealed changes in the cellular microtubule network and formation of polymerized microtubules in As(2)O(3)-treated cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The microtubules alterations found with As(2)O(3) treatment suggest that As(2)O(3) increases the depolymerized forms of tubulin in cells and that this is potentially due to arsenite's negative effects on spindle dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"105-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.105","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronic graft versus host disease with small bowel obstruction after unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.","authors":"Ju Young Yoon,&nbsp;Hyery Kim,&nbsp;Hyoung Jin Kang,&nbsp;Kyung Duk Park,&nbsp;Hee Young Shin,&nbsp;Hyo Seop Ahn","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a frequent complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but simultaneous small bowel obstruction is rare. Here, we report a child with acute myeloid leukemia who received an allogeneic HSCT from an unrelated matched donor. After HSCT, the patient developed severe chronic GVHD involving the small intestine, leading to obstruction of the terminal ileum. Small bowel resection was performed, and the symptoms improved without severe complications. Bowel obstruction should be considered as a possible complication of chronic GVHD; surgery may be a valuable corrective measure.</p>","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"142-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.142","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relapse pattern and prognosis of primary CNS lymphoma.","authors":"Saurabh Dahiya,&nbsp;Wei Boon Ooi","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.154","url":null,"abstract":"TO THE EDITOR: We compliment the work of Kim et al., on relapse patterns and prognosis of primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) [1]. Analyzing data on 65 patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL, authors conclude that regular systemic evaluation of extra-cranial site may not always be necessary. They also report that age less than 60 to have better overall survival (OS) and patients who received chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (Ctx-ASCT) to have better failure free survival (FFS). This study is one of the few studies to analyze PCNSL relapse patterns and the first study so far to analyze impact of Ctx-ASCT as compared to other treatment options in PCNSL.","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"154"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.154","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiologic overview of malignant lymphoma.","authors":"Jooryung Huh","doi":"10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.92","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.92","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malignant lymphoma encompasses a wide variety of distinct disease entities. It is generally more common in developed countries and less common in developing countries. The East Asia region has one of the lowest incidence rates of malignant lymphoma. The incidence of malignant lymphoma around the world has been increasing at a rate of 3-4% over the last 4 decades, while some stabilization has been observed in developed countries in recent years. The reasons behind this lymphoma epidemic are poorly understood, although improving diagnostic accuracy, the recent AIDS epidemic, an aging world population and the increasing adoption of cancer-causing behaviors are suggested as contributing factors. Etiologies of malignant lymphoma include infectious agents, immunodeficiency, autoimmune disease, exposure to certain organic chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The distribution of many subtypes exhibit marked geographic variations. Compared to the West, T/natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas (T/NK-cell lymphoma) and extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) are relatively more common, whereas other B-cell lymphomas, particularly follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, are less common in Asia. Some subtypes of T/NK-cell lymphomas defined by Epstein-Barr virus association are predominantly Asian diseases, if not exclusively so. Both ethnic and environmental factors play roles in such diversity. In this review, we discuss the geographic distribution and etiology of malignant lymphoma, as well as the trend.</p>","PeriodicalId":23001,"journal":{"name":"The Korean Journal of Hematology","volume":"47 2","pages":"92-104"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.5045/kjh.2012.47.2.92","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30753367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}