Clinico-pathological study of malignant lymphoma in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

A clinico-pathological study of malignant lymphoma in Jamaica was undertaken to examine the disease pattern in a predominantly Negro population of West African origin. During a 9-year period (1958-66) 260 histologically verified cases of malignant lymphoma were encountered. The distribution of the different histological types was as follows Hodgkin's disease 50.9 percent, lymphoma 1.9 percent. No cases of Burkitt's tumour were encountered. This study indicates that malignant lymphoma is not uncommon in Jamaica, and that its distribution pattern is similar to that observed in Europe and North America, except for the apucity of giant follicular lymphoma, and is different from the pattern observed in parts of Africa populated by Negroes, where Burkitt's tumour is the most common type, and where Hodgkin's disease is relatively uncommon. The age and sex incidence was in general similar to other reported series, but the duration of symptoms was short. The majority of patients presented with generalised periperal lymphadenopathy. Hepatosplenomegaly and anaemia were common on admission. The prognosis was generally poor in comparison with European and North American series due to advanced stage of disease on presentation.(Summary)