Descriptive Case Series of Childhood Lymphomas Treated at the Children's Hospital of Mexico
Miguel A Palomo-Colli1, Daniela Vega-Ruiz2, Argelia Escobar-Sánchez3
1Hematology and Oncology Department, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City 06720, Mexico.
Insights
This study characterizes pediatric lymphomas in Mexico, finding Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) most common. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patterns, particularly precursor T-cell types, differed from high-income countries, impacting outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Hematology
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- Pediatric lymphomas are diverse malignancies with varied clinical presentations.
- Limited detailed case-based characterization exists for pediatric lymphomas in Mexico.
- This study addresses this gap by analyzing demographic and clinical features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the demographic and clinical profiles of pediatric lymphomas diagnosed over an 11-year period at a national referral center in Mexico.
- To compare observed histopathological subtypes and outcomes with international data.
- To inform future research and clinical management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric lymphoma cases (0-17 years) diagnosed between 2004-2014.
- Classification using the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, 3rd Edition (ICCC-3).
- Analysis of histopathological subtypes, age, sex, and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
- Nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity were predominant HL subtypes.
- Within NHL, precursor T-cell lymphomas were most common, contrasting with high-income settings; Burkitt lymphoma occurred in younger children.
Conclusions:
- This series provides crucial characterization of pediatric lymphomas in Mexico.
- HL subtype patterns align with global trends, but NHL subtype distribution differs significantly from high-income regions.
- Findings underscore the importance of institutional registries and comprehensive outcome reporting.
Abstract:
Background: Pediatric lymphomas comprise a heterogeneous group of malignancies with substantial variation in their clinical presentation. In Mexico, detailed case-based characterization remains limited. This study summarizes the demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric lymphomas diagnosed at a national referral center over an 11-year period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of lymphoma cases in children aged 0-17 years diagnosed at the Children's Hospital of Mexico between 2004 and 2014. Cases were classified according to the ICCC-3 system and further described by histopathological subtype, age group, sex, and clinical outcomes. Results: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Among HL cases, nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity predominated, particularly in school-age children and adolescents. Within NHL, precursor T-cell lymphoma represented the largest subgroup, whereas mature B-cell lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, were less common than typically reported in high-income settings. Burkitt lymphoma occurred mainly among younger children. HL showed high survival, while some NHL subtypes exhibited poorer outcomes. Conclusions: This large hospital-based case series provides characterization of pediatric lymphomas in a major Mexican referral center. While HL subtype patterns resembled global trends, the predominance of precursor T-cell lymphomas within NHL contrasts with observations from high-income regions. These findings highlight the value of institutional case registries and the need for more comprehensive outcome reporting in future studies.
