Frequency and pattern of Hodgkin's disease in Karachi, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

A study of 137 cases of Hodgkin's disease [HD] was carried out in the department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi and department of pathology, National Institute of Child Health [NICH], Karachi, to identify the frequency of Hodgkin's disease among Lymphomas, and the frequency and pattern of HD in relation to age and sex. The diagnosis was made primarily on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections and was categorized according to Rye classification. Special stains namely Gomors reticulin were used in some cases showing vague nodularity. The frequency of hodgkin's disease among lymphomas was 49%. The most common histological type was mixed cellularity [51.8%], followed by nodular sclerosis [17.55%], then lymphocyte depletion [16.7%] and lymphocyte predominance [10.2%]. Five [3.6%] cases were unclassifiable. Hodgkin's disease was seen in all age groups with peak incidence during second and third decades. The male and female ratio was 3.71 with a distinct male predominance in all types