title: Peripheral lymphadenopathy in Nigeria.
abstract: A review was carried out on the histopathological diagnosis of peripheral lymph node biopsies processed and reported within a period of 18 years (1979-1996) in the Department of Pathology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. A total of 751 cases from 468 male and 283 female patients within the age range of 1 year to 80 years were reviewed. Non-neoplastic lesions made up 50.8% while neoplastic lesions constituted 49.2%. Tuberculosis was the commonest cause of peripheral lymphadenopathy (31.4%) followed by metastatic lesions (19.3%). As a group, the lymphomas constituted 28.2% and were made up of Hodgkin's disease 12.6%, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma including Burkitt's lymphoma 15.6% (with Burkitt's alone constituting 3.3%). Few other infectious diseases found included toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis and onchocerciasis. Non-specific reactive and inflammatory changes (both acute and chronic) collectively formed 17.6%. The primary sites of lymph node metastases could not be determined in 36.6% of netastatic lesions while the breast was the origin in 13.8% and was the highest incidence of metastatis. The commonest lymph node group affected was the cervical (42.6%) followed by inguinal (24.1%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Adeniji
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Anjorin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000150:complications; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications