Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by immunohistochemistry

Non Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasm of the lymphoid system. There are many histological subtype of NHL based on WHO classification of hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasm. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the department of Pathology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from January 2009 to December 2010 to observe the different subtypes of NHL using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with CD3. A total of 50 microscopically diagnosed case of NHL irrespective of age and sex were included in the study. The diagnostic morphologic criteria of each lymphoma subcategory were compiled and diagnosis was made. Mean age of the study subjects were 42.0±19.7 years with range 3-75 years and male female ratio was 1.8:1. Nodal NHL was 66% and extranodal cases were 34%. Maximum number of histolgic subtypes belonged to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and male was predominant in all histological subtypes, except peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). DLBCL was predominant in all B-cell NHL whereas PTCL was predominant in all T-cell NHL. The most childhood patients belonged to lymphoblastic lymphoma. Regarding cell lineage B-cell NHL was more common than T-cell NHL (88% vs. 12%), but high grade pattern was more predominant in T-cell type (83.3% vs. 65.9%). Among 50 study subjects histological (H & E) diagnosis reveals 46 cases as B-cell NHL and 4 as T-cell NHL but IHC confirms 6 cases as T-cell NHL.