Pattern of Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) in Aden, Yemen

DLBCL is part of aggressive lymphomas with limited survival in the absence of effective treatment.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the pattern of presentation of DLBCL in patients diagnosed in Aden.

It was conducted prospectively in Aden, at Al-Amal Oncology Unit of Al-Gamhouria Modern General Hospital. All patients confirmed to have NHL by histopathology were selected from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st, 2009. They were clinically examined and investigated for clinical staging and classification.

DATA ANALYSIS was conducted by the SPSS 18 program, using the Chi square, Fisher Exact, hypothesis test (Z-test) and student t-tests.

The frequency of DLBCL was 35%. In DLBCL, the median age was 51.5 years, with male to female ratio of 3.67:1. Clinically, most patients were nodal and B symptoms were present in 64.3% of them; weight loss and sweating were reported more than in the other subtypes of NHL. Investigations showed that 64.3% were anemic, 35.7% with high ESR and high β2 microglobulin, 21.4% with low albumin and high uric acid. Half of them presented in stage III and IV disease and according to the IPI scoring, 64.3% presented with intermediate to high risk disease. Comparison with other NHL subtypes was performed and showed that DLBCL is associated with aggressive pattern of presentation.

This study concluded that DLBCL is an aggressive NHL at presentation and needs immediate diagnosis and intervention to improve the outcome.

DLBCL, NHL, Lymphoma, Pattern, Aden, Aggressive.