Malignant Lymphomas in Pakistan According to the WHO Classification of Lymphoid Neoplasms

Abstract


Objective: To determine the spectrum of malignant lymphoma in our set up, according to the WHOclassification.
Methods: All the cases diagnosed as malignant lymphoma, during the year 2005, were retrievedfrom the institution based tumour registry record and classified according to WHO criteria depending on theimmunohistochemical results of a panel of lymphoma markers.
Results: The male to female ratio was 2.5: 1 foralmost all types of malignant lymphomas. The age range was 3 to 80 years. The frequency of Hodgkin’s lymphoma,Burkitt’s lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma were higher amongst the children, whereas follicularlymphomas, mantle cell lymphoma and CLL/SLL were more frequently reported in 5th, 6th and 7th decades.Of the total cases 62% were nodal and 38% extranodal (majority in the GI tract). Non Hodgkin’s lymphomawas more (73%) frequent than Hodgkin’s disease. Mixed cellularity and nodular sclerosis were the mainhistological variants of Hodgkin’s disease.
Conclusions: Immunohistochemistry is not very frequently used inour set up and that also at very few centres. Therefore, its application should be encouraged to raise the qualityof data on lymphoid neoplasms and contribute to their control.

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