Pediatric Hodgkin's disease in Egypt

A consecutive group of 242 children with Hodgkin's disease attending the National Cancer Institute, Cairo during the years 1975-1980 were studied. Males predominated representing 76.85% of cases. Age distribution was similar to other African countries with an earlier presentation than the US. The most common histopathologic types was the mixed cellularity 60.74% of patients. Late Stages III and IV represented 63.22%, with a high tumor burden. Celiotomy in 154 cases detected more tissue involvement than clinical assessment. Its results coincided with lymphography in 68% of the cases. It showed 7 cases with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. As schistosomal infestation is still prevalent in rural areas of Egypt, celiotomy seems mandatory in the cases studied to accomplish proper staging.