Histopathology of Head and Neck Lymphomas in Ibadan

BACKGROUND: Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors of lymphoid tissue in which there is a malignant proliferation of cells of the lymphatic system. They are the most frequent nonepithelial malignancy in the head and neck region. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological pattern of the disease in the head and neck region and trends in presentation seen in our center MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of cases of head and neck lymphoma (HNL) seen in the Pathology Department of the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria over a period of 37 years (1981–2017). Information extracted from the records included the sociodemographics of the patients, tumor location, and histological type among others. Data were analyzed and results were presented as frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: There were a total of 373 cases of histologically and/or cytologically diagnosed HNL seen during the study period (an average of 10 cases per year). The mean age of patients was 33.5 ± 21.9 years with male:female ratio of 1.6:1. Most HNL were non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL), accounting for 91% of cases. Nodal disease was seen in 39% of cases. The bone (prominently, the jaws) predominated (25%) in extranodal lesions. Burkitt’s lymphoma was the most common specific subtype of NHL, occurring in 25.5% of cases. CONCLUSION: There has been an apparent upward trend in the prevalence of HNL over the past four decades, although other parameters such as age and sex predilection appear unaffected. Factors responsible for this trend need to be interrogated and ascertained.