title: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in Pakistan: an emerging epidemic?
abstract: There has been a recent concern among oncological clinicians and pathologists of our region regarding the disproportionate increase in the number of patients presenting with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This prompted us to conduct a thorough, hospital-based epidemiological study in a major referral center of Pakistan. A total of 780 specimens were collected over last half decade from cases classified as adult Non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Out of these 780, 596 (76.4 %) were diagnosed as DLBCLs. The gender ratio was 2.3:1 (M:F) and the median age was 47.2 years, with an age range of 15-85 years. Nodal-NHLs constituted 42.2 % of all adult NHLs, with the cervical lymph nodes as the most frequent nodal site of presentation. The most frequent extranodal site was the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT), followed by the head and neck. In conclusion, we document an astonishingly high number of DLBCL amounting to an emerging epidemic in Pakistan, with a consideration of probable etiopathogenetic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, The Aga Khan Univeristy Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Bilal
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.forename: Faria
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nasim
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pervez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution