[1322] Lymphoma in Northern Iraq, a World Health Organization Classification of 111 Cases

RT Yaqo, FK Sulayvani, N AlAllawi, M Hughson. Dohuk University Medical College, Dohuk, Iraq; Hewa Hematology and Oncology Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq

Background: The prevalence of diagnostic categories of lymphoma differs across geographical regions. In developing countries, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are uniformly common. In contrast to Western countries, follicular lymphomas (FL) are rare, and mixed cellularity (MC) is the most common form of Hodgkins lymphoma (HL). Our objective is to compare lymphoma diagnoses in Northern Iraq with reported series in nearby Mid-Eastern countries.
Design: All lymphomas referred to Azadi teaching hospital, Dohuk, Northern-Iraq between 2003 and 2008, were categorized using the WHO classification. Immunohistochemistry was performed with the following panel of antibodies: CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD10, CD15, CD20, CD23, CD30, CD57, CD79a, ALK-1, Cyclin D1, BCL2, BCL6, and TdT.
Results: There were 90 (81%) non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and 21 (19%) HL. The age range of NHL patients was 3 to 75 years with a median age of 39 years. Of the NHL, 93% had a B-cell phenotype and 7% were T- cell neoplasms. DLBCL comprised 64% of NHL. Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) was the second most common NHL at 17% with all BL being found in children as abdominal primaries. Small lymphocytic lymphoma, mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and FL were represented at 7%, 3.3%, 1.1%, and 1.1% respectively. T-cell neoplasms consisted of 2 mycosis fungoides, 2 anaplastic large T-cell lymphomas, and 2 lymphoblastic lymphomas. For 21 HL, 10 were MCHL, 9 nodular sclerosis (NS), and 2 nodular lymphocyte predominant HL.
Conclusions: This study revealed a high frequency of DLBCL and childhood abdominal BL and a single FL. MCHL exceeded the frequency of NSHL. These distributions are similar to those reported from Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey and indicate a shared geographic influence on lymphoma prevalence with Northern Iraq.
Category: Hematopathology

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 9:30 AM

Poster Session III # 129, Tuesday Morning