Distribution of Ki67 proliferative indices among WHO subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: association with other clinical parameters.
BACKGROUND
Non-hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a diverse group of disease encompassing divergent tumor types with contrasting clinical behaviors. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of Ki67 index in segregating indolent from aggressive NHL and its association with clinical parameters.


METHODS
During a study period of 4.5 years, a total of 215 cases of lymphomas were diagnosed among of which 172 cases were NHL. Ki67 immunohistochemical staining was performed by the DAKO envision method. Average proportion of tumor cells stained was calculated to determine the proliferative index.


RESULTS
The mean age at diagnosis was 46.2 years +19.8 (3-81) with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Mean Ki67 index for indolent NHL included 23% for small cell, 25% for mantle cell, 28.5% for marginal zone and 34.6% for follicular lymphoma. On the other hand, mean Ki67 index for aggressive lymphomas were 66.4%, 66.9%, 80.3%, 83.3% and 94.4% for diffuse large B cell, T cell (NOS), anaplastic large cell, lymphoblastic and burkitts lymphoma respectively. No significant correlation was found between Ki67 index and other clinical parameters like age and extra nodal involvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Ki67 index is a valuable IHC marker to distinguish indolent from aggressive lymphomas especially in small needle biopsies where exact typing may not be possible.
Department of Histopathology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan E-mail : doc_atif2005@yahoo.com.
Atif Ali
AA
Hashmi
Zubaida Fida
ZF
Hussain
Naveen
N
Faridi
Amna
A
Khurshid
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen