title: Childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: an immunophenotypic analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the frequency of histological subtypes of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and its immunohistochemical profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed in children (< 15 years) in the section of histopathology at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi during the period of three years.
  
  
  METHODS
  These consecutive cases were evaluated on H&E stained sections and then immunohistochemistry analysis of these tumors was performed by employing Peroxidase Anti-Peroxidase (PAP) technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present series included 61 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. NHL was more common in males as compared to females with male to female ratio of 5.8:1. High grade NHL comprised 87% of childhood lymphoma. The mode of presentation in majority of NHL (57%) was extranodal. Burkitt's lymphoma (33%) was the most prevalent histological subtypes, followed by lymphoblastic (28%), diffuse large cell (15%), diffuse mix small and large cell (13%), small non cleaved Non-Burkitt's (7%) and immunoblastic (4%). Immunophenotypic analysis of the childhood Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma revealed that 67% of the Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are B-cell type while 33%, are those of T-cell lineage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NHL was more common in males. Majority of NHL in children were high grade tumors. Burkitt's lymphoma was the most frequent histological subtype. T-cell NHL comprised a significant portion of childhood lymphomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muzaffar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pervez
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male