This study sponsored by the Lymphoreticular Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists was carried out to provide nationwide data about the histopathologic-immunophenotypic features of malignant lymphomas in Korea. Two hundred and ninety Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) among 312 malignant lymphomas collected from three representative areas in Korea were histologically reclassified. Two hundred and fifty three cases were immunohistochemically studied. T-cell lymphoma comprised 35.2% of NHL in this study and showed a quite comparable incidence to that of Japan and China, but it was much higher than in Western countries. A very low prevalence rate of the follicular variety (4.0%) and a higher propensity of primary extranodal involvement (60%) are additional characteristics of NHL in Korea. The most common histologic subtype of B cell lymphoma was diffuse large cell type, whereas the most common subtype of T cell lymphoma was diffuse mixed small and large cell type.

One case of arthritis complicating leukemia is described in which leukemic cells were identified in synovial fluid by light microscopy. Although arthritis is a well-known manifestation of leukemia with an incidence of 13.5%, the pathogenesis often is unclear, and the direct demonstration of leukemic cells in synovial fluid has been very uncommon. A 16 year-old male patient was admitted due to left elbow joint pain and swelling. Synovial fluid examination revealed blast cells and this finding has directed to a final diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In thirty patients with acute leukemia and severe aplastic anemia receiving random single donor platelet transfusions, the development of refractoriness by consecutive platelet transfusions with cytapheresis and its relationship to the appearance of anti-platelet antibodies were investigated. The median number of platelet transfusions inducing refractoriness was 13 times, and 20% of the patients remained unrefractory despite of the repeated multiple platelet transfusions up to 20 to 25 times. The results of anti-platelet antibody tasts by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and immunofluorescent techniques(IFT) showed no statistically significant relationship with the refractoriness (p greater than 0.1). Although there was significant correlation between the results of ELISA and IFT, both tests were insufficient to find out refractoriness even with the use of pooled platelets from multiple donors as target cells. This study shows that 13 single donor platelet transfusions result in refractoriness, that both ELISA and IFT are insufficient to detect refractoriness despite of their significant correlation, and that other methods than these are needed in order to detect alloimmunization.