OBJECTIVE: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most
frequent malignancies in Jordan. The aims of this study are: 1.
To classify NHL cases in Jordan, using the new World Health
Organization (WHO) classification system, 2. To identify the
most common types of NHL in Jordan, and 3. To compare lymphoma
types and patterns in Jordan with those in surrounding countries
and the West.
METHODS: We studied all NHL cases, diagnosed during 1996
through to 1999 inclusive, at 2 major medical centers in Jordan,
in order to identify their main types and patterns. One hundred
and eleven cases of confirmed NHLs were reexamined and
immunophenotyped in the year 2000, at the Department of
Pathology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid,
Jordan, using an immunohistochemical panel of antibodies,
including CD3, CD15, CD20, CD30, CD43, CD45 and CD45RO.
Confirmed NHL cases were reclassified according to the recently
proposed WHO system of Hematological Malignancies.
RESULTS: The median age of NHL cases was 44-years (range
2-85). The vast majority of cases were of B-cell phenotype; only
14% of the cases were T-cell lymphomas. Most of the cases were
of the aggressive intermediate to high-grade large cell type.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) comprised 53% of NHLs and
62% of B-cell NHLs. Indolent lymphomas were uncommon, comprising
14% of all NHL cases. Twenty-nine cases were seen among patients
less than 20-years. Burkitt lymphoma represented the largest
group (55%) of the childhood NHLs followed by diffuse large cell
and lymphoblastic types.
CONCLUSION: Indolent lymphomas are rare in Jordan and
account for less than 15% of all NHLs. Aggressive lymphomas; on
the other hand, account for the majority of NHLs in Jordan.
Burkitt lymphoma affected children less than 10-years of age
with a median of 4.5-years. These observations indicate that
NHLs in Jordan have different type distribution and patterns
from those seen in the West.
Institution
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University
of Science and Technolgoy, Irbid, Jordan. nal-masri@saad.com.sa
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