title: Pattern of lymph node pathology in western Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to characterize the histopathological pattern of lymph node pathology among Saudi patients and to highlight the age and gender variations of these lesions as base line data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the data from lymph node biopsy specimens received at the Department of Pathology, King Fahad Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia from January 2006 to December 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 289 lymph node biopsy specimens received, 154 (53.3%) were from males and 135 (46.7%) from females giving a male: female ratio of 1.14:1. Age of the patients ranged from 2.5 to 96 years with a mean age 33.9 years. The commonest lymph node group affected was the cervical (30.4%) followed by axillary (9.7%) and inguinal (8.7%). Malignant lymphoma [71 Hodgkin's disease (HD), 57 non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)] 128 (44.3%), reactive hyperplasia 68 (23.5%), and tuberculosis 41 (14.2%) were the common causes of lymph node enlargement. While HD, reactive hyperplasia and tuberculosis were commonest in young adult patients (10-29 years old) and rare above the age of 50 years; NHL was the predominant cause of lymph node enlargement above 50 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymph node biopsy plays an important role in establishing the cause of lymphadenopathy. Among the biopsied nodes, lymphomas were the most common (44.3%) followed by non-specific reactive hyperplasia (23.5%) and tuberculous lymphadenitis (14.2%).
authors: Department of Pathology, Taibah University, King Fahad Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia E-mail : rmor_family@hotmail.co.uk.
authors: Abdulkader Mohammed
authors: AM
authors: Albasri
authors: Abeer Abdalla
authors: AA
authors: El-Siddig
authors: Akbar Shah
authors: AS
authors: Hussainy
authors: Ahmed Safar
authors: AS
authors: Alhujaily
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D055815:Young Adult