Patterns of lymphoma in Misan city, Iraq: A retrospective observational study

Abstract

Background: Lymphomas represent a biologically and clinically heterogeneous group of neoplasms. They have historically and clinically been divided into two groups, Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). This study aimed to identify patterns in lymphomas in Misan city, Iraq, and evaluate the characteristics of this disease. Methods: A retrospective, observational, single-center study was conducted at Al-Shifaa Oncology Center, Al-Sadder Teaching Hospital, Misan city, Iraq, between 1 April 2016 and 30 April 2018. A total of 80 Misanian participants (48 (60%) men and 32 (40%) women) who had lymphoma were involved in this study. The sources of information were patient files, histopathology reports, and patients’ oncologist reports. Results: The mean age (±SD) of participants was 36 ±12.8 years. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. NHL cases were three times more prevalent than HL. The most frequent stage at presentation was stage IV, in 34 (42.5%) participants. The classical subtypes of HL were present in 14 (70%) of HL cases. The diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype was the most common NHL subtype, being recorded for 44 (73.3%) of participants. Conclusion: Lymphomas were more frequent in men. NHL was more common than HL; one HL case was diagnosed for every three NHL cases. The most common histopathology of HL was mixed cellularity, while DLBCL was the most common subtype of NHL. Most cases presented at an advanced stage, resulting in a late diagnosis.