The clinico-pathological profile of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Aseer region of Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a group of neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders, in which, its clinical spectrum, primary extra nodal variety, histopathology and Immunohistochemistry, remain lacking in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to assess the clinicopathologic patterns of NHL and the utility and diagnostic role of IHC immunophenotyping. RESULTS: Patients > 60 years of age had the highest incidence of NHL; male: female ratio was 1.27:1. The incidence of NHL has shown a steady increase in the Aseer region from 2011 to 2014. Twenty-Five percent of our patients presented with advanced disease (Stage IV). A total of 52% of patients presented with constitutional symptoms, while 43% showed generalized lymphadenopathy. Nearly half of our patients (49%) had primary NHL of extra nodal variety, where the stomach was the most commonly involved organ (13 cases). Diffuse large B cell lymphoma was the most common subtype of NHL in our population (59%). Most patients (82%) were positive for CD20 surface marker, while 60% were positive for CD45.