Lymphomas in Golestan Province of Iran: Results of a Population-based Cancer Registry

Introduction: Malignancies of lymphoid cells can be divided into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas(NHL) on the basis of pathologic features, clinical manifestations and treatment. In this paper we present dataon lymphomas in Golestan province, in the northeast of Iran, during 2004-2006, using three years results ofthe Golestan population-based cancer registry (GPCR), a voting member of the International Association ofCancer Registries (IACR).
Methods: GPCR started collecting data on all cancers from all public and privatediagnostic and therapeutic centers (hospitals, specialist physicians’ offices, pathology, laboratory, and imagingcenters) of Golestan province in 2004. Here, we used the Iranian national census data to identify the populationcharacteristics of this geographical area. The last census was done in 2006 and the next one will be done in 2011.The population data for years between the national census intervals are retrieved from provincial census doneannually by health deputy of Golestan University of Medical Sciences (GOUMS).
Results: A total of 5,076 cancercases were diagnosed in the GPCR between 2004 and 2006. Of these, 237 (4.67 %) were lymphomas, among theten top cancers of this area, the patients having a mean (±SD) age of 45.2 (±20.9) years. The number of cases,frequency, age specific rates, crude rates and age standardized incidence rates (ASR) (per 100,000 personyears)for lymphomas in males and females are presented.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that accordingto available therapies for HL and NHL, the outcome of the patients could be improved in this area, due to thebetter diagnostic and therapeutic methods now available.