Childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: an immunophenotypic analysis.
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.
Shah
S H
SH
Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Muzaffar
S
S
Pervez
S
S
Hassan
S H
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male