Lymphadenopathy in Nigerian children.

The histopathologic findings on 121 excised enlarged lymph nodes from 48 female and 73 male Nigerian children resident in Ife-Ijesa zone of Western Nigeria over a period of ten years (1982-1991) form the basis of this study. Patients' ages ranged from 2 months to 15 years. Most of the patients (81%) were aged 6 years and above. The cervical region was the commonest site of lymphadenopathy (48%) and localized lymphadenopathy was the rule. Chronic specific inflammation (tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, and histoplasmosis) predominated as a cause of lymphadenopathy (44%) compared with non specific lymphadenitis (31%) and malignant tumours (24%). Tuberculosis was the commonest cause of chronic specific lymphadenitis and was commoner in girls. The cervical region was the commonest site for chronic specific lymphadenitis, as well as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The lymphomas were more common in males. The peak incidence for Hodgkin's disease was between the ages of 12 and 15 years.