IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL PROFILING OF LYMPHOMAS IN JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, JOS

Abstract

Background:
Lymphomas are a significant cause of disease burden globally. In Nigeria, lymphomas are the most frequent malignancies in children, while they are the third commonest malignancies in adults. Precise and effectual treatment is dependent on identification of definite lymphoma subtypes.

Objective of this study:
This study was undertaken to document the histologic and immunophenotypic subtypes of lymphomas in Jos.
Methods:
All documented cases of lymphomas, diagnosed over a period of 5 years, at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, were reviewed and classified according to their morphologic characteristics. Immunostaining with a panel of four monoclonal antibodies, was employed for classification according to cell lineage.
Results:
There were a total of one hundred and eleven(111) histologically diagnosed lymphoma cases during the 5 year period of review(2008-2012). Lymphomas were more common in females with a male to female ratio of 0.8:1. A total of 48.7% of cases occurred within the 36-65 years age bracket. Children accounted for 17.9% of cases. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas were predominant, accounting for 89.7% of cases, while Hodgkin lymphoma made up 10.3% . Diffuse large B cell lymphoma and Burkitt were the commonest histologic subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The nodular sclerosing subtype was the commonest variant of Hodgkin lymphoma seen. Immunophenotypically, B cell lymphomas accounted for 77.1% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas, T cell lymphomas were seen in 5.7% of cases, while phenotyping was inconclusive in 17.1% of cases of non Hodgkin lymphoma.
Conclusion:
Immunohistochemistry is invaluable in delineating lymphoid lesions in accordance with their cell of origin, as well as determining the course of therapy.

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL PROFILING OF LYMPHOMAS IN JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, JOS