The clinicopathologic patterns of Hodgkin's lymphoma in Lagos, Nigeria: A retrospective study

Background:Hodgkin's lymphoma is a malignant tumor of the lymph nodes that causes painless lymphadenopathy. Diagnosing it can be challenging, especially in the early stages, due to often nonspecific symptoms. This study addresses our center's increased Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) incidence. Given the limited literature on this subject, we aim to enhance our understanding of HL's incidence and clinicopathological features in our environment.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed HL cases from 2010 to 2022 at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and two private laboratories. Clinical data were gathered from case files and laboratory requests, and both hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections and immunohistochemical slides were reviewed to classify the diseases morphologically.Results:A total of 50 HL cases were identified, primarily in the cervical region, with 5 and 4 cases in the inguinal and axillary regions, respectively. Among the 34 with clinical information, there were 35% in Ann Arbor stage I, 15% in stage II, none in stage III, and 9% in stage IV, while 41% had unspecified stages. The cohort comprised 40 males and 10 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. Ages ranged from 2 to 72 (mean 32.8), and most cases (68%) involved individuals in their third to fifth decades. Histologically, the breakdown was 44% nodular sclerosis, 30% mixed cellularity, 8% lymphocyte-rich, 4% lymphocyte-depleted, and four unclassified cases.Conclusions:HL is common at our center. It typically presents at a late stage, predominantly nodal, and is more frequent in young adult males. The nodular sclerosis (NS) subtype is the most common, and a bimodal peak is not observed. The increased frequency among young people and late presentations indicates a need for improved access to clinical and diagnostic services.