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Non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas in Thailand: A retrospective pathologic and clinical analysis of 1391 cases
Author(s) -
Intragumtornchai Tanin,
Wannakrairoj Pongsak,
Chaimongkol Boonsom,
Bhoopat Lertlakkana,
Lekhakula Arnuparp,
Thamprasit Taratorn,
Suwanwela Nipha,
Suthipinthawong Chipsumol,
Prayoonwiwat Wichai,
Meekungwal Preecha,
Sirijerachai Chittima,
Pairojkul Chaowarit
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19961015)78:8<1813::aid-cncr24>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphoma , etiology , retrospective cohort study , disease , thais , pathology , follicular lymphoma , diffuse large b cell lymphoma , demography , sociology
BACKGROUND Geographic variations in the histopathologic pattern of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are well documented. Insight into this epidemiologic data might shed light on the underlying etiology. Currently, there is a paucity of information regarding the pattern of NHL occurring in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The current nationwide study was undertaken to obtain a clearer definition of the disease among Thais and to compare this information with data from other Asian and Western countries. METHODS A retrospective analysis of histopathologic subtypes and clinical features was conducted in 1391 patients (age; ce 15 years) with NHL who were treated at 6 major medical centers in 4 representative areas of Thailand. One hundred and thirty unselected cases were immunohistochemically studied. The reports from other countries used for comparison were identified through a computerized search on MEDLINE. RESULTS Of the total cases studied, follicular lymphomas constituted 3.8% and diffuse lymphomas 91.4%. The frequency of low and intermediate grade (including large cell immunoblastic, using the Working Formulation) were 12.8% and 72.9%, respectively. The most common histologic subtype was the diffuse large cell and large cell immunoblastic entity, which constituted 39.9% of the cases studied. The rate of small lymphocytic and diffuse small cleaved subtypes were higher than in the United States. Of the 130 cases studied, T‐cell lymphoma comprised 16.1%, which was much less than in Japan, China, or Taiwan. CONCLUSIONS The histopathologic pattern of NHL in Thailand was characterized by the features noted for Asia, i.e., a low rate of the follicular entity and a preponderance of the diffuse aggressive subtypes. In addition, the frequency of the small lymphocytic and diffuse small cleaved subtypes were increased compared with the Western population and the rate of T‐cell lymphoma appeared to be less than in Far East Asia. Cancer 1996;78:1813‐9.