Immunohistochemical and clinicopathological study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Erbil, Kurdistan

Abstract

Background and objective: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. Types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma vary significantly in their severity from indolent to very aggressive. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, immunohistochemical expression, clinical and histopathological prognostic factors of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Methods: A total of 59 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases were reviewed and investigated at Razgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil city during the period from January, 2011 to January, 2013. Data of patients were tabulated and distributed according to their age, sex, site, immunohistochemical expression and WHO classification.Results: Age of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients ranged from 2 to 88 years with a mean of 45 year. Around 49% of the patients were of age group over 50 years and 54.2% of pa-tients were male. Immunohistochemical investigation indicated that 71.2% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas were of B cell type, the highest percentage (33.3%) of them was of diffuse large cell type. While the T cell type was found in 20.3%, the highest percentage (33.3%) of them was of Anaplastic lymphoma. CD20 and CD3 showed more consistent and strong expression for B and T cells non-Hodgkin lymphoma, respectively. Results showed high BCL2 expression. Nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma account for 50.8% of the total cases.Conclusion: Most non-Hodgkin lymphomas were of B cell type and highest percentage is of diffuse large cell type. CD20 and CD3 were more reliable as an indicator of B and T cell lineage, respectively. Most non-Hodgkin lymphomas were of intermediate-high grade. Nodal site represent highest rate for primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma.