Non-hodgkin's lymphomas in Iraqi children: analysis of 102 cases

ABSTRACT

The study is a clinicopathological of 102 Iraqi children with non- Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL]. Most were high-grade types, affecting mostly male children with tendency to abdominal or mediastinal presentation according to the histologic type. Small non-cleaved follicular center [SNC] lymphomas frequently presented as intestinal primaries with a very aggressive course particularly in Burkitt's subtype if not treated promptly and adequately. Lymphoblastic [LBL] occurred more frequently in older children with mediastinal primaries and followed by leukemic dissemination. The Mediterranean lymphoma [MTL] was uncommon [8.8%], mostly in the early mucosal phase with good prognosis. Not a single case of follicular lymphomas was encountered in this series. Proper histopathologic typing helps to define the epidemiology, natural history and therapy of NHL in children