Adult lymphomas in Edo state, Niger Delta region of Nigeria--clinicopathological profile of 205 cases.

The clinicopathologic features of malignant lymphomas had not been documented in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which is known for its petrochemical industries and gas flare sites. Cases of lymphomas that presented to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), a major referral centre in the region, from January 1990 to December 2003 were reviewed. Demographic and clinical information were obtained from the case files. Diagnosis was established based on the histological examination of an accessible biopsy lymph node and classified according to the Working Formulation (WF). Haematological parameters were done using an automated Coulter counter. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) occurred predominantly in young adults (20-39 years). A majority of the patients presented in the advanced stage of the disease (Stages III-IV) according to the Ann Arbor system and a performance status (PS) scale of 2-4. The intermediate grade NHL (41.2%) formed the largest group of which diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) was the most commonly observed histopathologic type followed by the large cell immunoblastic type.