title: The epidemiological features of lymphoid malignancies in Benin City, Nigeria: a 15 years study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphoid malignancies compose a wide spectrum of different morphologic and clinical syndromes known to vary widely throughout the world. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and time trends of lymphoid malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 15 (May 1st 1996-April 30th 2010) years study of all patients who had lymph node biopsy at the Department of Haematology and Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 391 patients had a male preponderance (M:F; 1.6:1). An increase in the lymphoid malignant cases was noted from 95 cases in the first 5-year interval (1996-2000) to 179 cases in the last 5-year interval (2006-2010) giving an average increase of 84.0%. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma (61.1%) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (18.2%) were the most frequent followed by Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma with equal proportions of 9.0% each. A positive correlation with a significant linear trends was obtained (r=0.1949, p<0.0001). Geographic areas at risk were found mainly in patients residing in Delta State (67.0%) which is a major oil producing state and Edo State (30.4%) where the hospital is located, both in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research into environmental agents and genetic makeup/HLA typing of patients can be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Caroline Edijana
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Omoti
authors.forename: Alexander Ikenna
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Nwannadi
authors.forename: Jude Chike
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Obieche
authors.forename: Adesuwa Noma
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Olu-Eddo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult