title: Malignant lymphomas in Pakistan according to the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the spectrum of malignant lymphomas in our set up, according to the WHO classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the cases diagnosed as malignant lymphoma, during the year 2005, were retrieved from the institution based tumour registry record and classified according to WHO criteria depending on the immunohistochemical results of a panel of lymphoma markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male to female ratio was 2.5:1 for almost all types of malignant lymphomas. The age range was 3 to 80 years. The frequency of Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma were higher amongst the children, whereas follicular lymphomas, mantle cell lymphoma and CLL/SLL were more frequently reported in 5th, 6th and 7th decades. Of the total cases 62% were nodal and 38% extranodal (majority in the GI tract). Non Hodgkin's lymphoma was more (73%) frequent than Hodgkin's disease. Mixed cellularity and nodular sclerosis were the main histological variants of Hodgkin's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunohistochemistry is not very frequently used in our set up and also at very few other centres. Therefore, its application should be encouraged to raise the quality of data on lymphoid neoplasms and contribute to their control.
authors: Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors: Sajid
authors: S
authors: Mushtaq
authors: Nooren
authors: N
authors: Akhtar
authors: Shahid
authors: S
authors: Jamal
authors: Nadira
authors: N
authors: Mamoon
authors: Tahir
authors: T
authors: Khadim
authors: Tariq
authors: T
authors: Sarfaraz
authors: Amin
authors: A
authors: Waqar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult