Patient characteristics

A total of 199 patients were identified (Table 1), with a median age of 70 years (range 28–87). 81% were > 60 years, 51% were male, 68% were Stage III/IV, 60% had IPI score 3–5, and 16% were diagnosed in other facilities. Forty-eight percent were treated with CHOP, 52% were given dose-reduced THP-COP regimen, and 94% were combined with rituximab. The reasons for omitting Rituximab were CD20 negativity (n = 1), severe infusion reaction (n = 1), early death before using Rituximab (n = 2), concerns about tumor lysis syndrome (n = 4), and details unknown (n =