Clinicopathological study of abdominal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in children

ABSTRACT

This study included 17 cases of children with abdominal non Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL], their ages ranged from 2 to 9 years, they were 13 males and 4 females. Abdominal swelling was the commonest clinical presentation in 8 cases [47%], acute intesitnal obstruction in 5 cases [29.4%], chronic intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation and ascites were also encountered. The primary tumor site was originated from the retroperitonium in 5 cases [29.4%], while the ileocecal junction and cecum were the primary site in [11.8%] each, the proximal ileum and mesentery were encountered in [5.9%] each. According to St. Jude's clinical classification, 11 cases [64.8%] were stage II, 3 cases [17.6%] were stage III and 3 cases [17.6%] were stage IV. Right hemicolectomy was the commonest operation performed in 7 cases [41.2%]. The histopathological examination of the resected specimens indicated that undifferentiated pleomorphic NHL type was the commonest finding in 11 cases [64.7%], while undifferentiated Burkitt's type was encountered in only one case [5.9%], 3 cases [17.6%] were lymphoblastic type, 2 cases [11.8%] were histiocytic type, and non of the cases were nodular folicular type