Lymphomas in Iran

Background: The present study aimed at examining the lymphomas in Iran. Methods: This study was conducted in 1994 on patients’ specimens who were referred to our centers during 1981 – 1994. Using the histochemical methods, the immunohistochemical markers were used to examine the biopsied specimens of 434 patients with non-Hodgkinʹs and Hodgkinʹs lymphomas. The patients were classified according to the updated Kiel and Rye classifications, respectively. Results: Out of the 385 cases that were diagnosed as lymphoma, 277 had non-Hodgkinʹs and 108 had Hodgkinʹs lymphomas. Sixty-four point five percent of those with non-Hodgkinʹs lymphoma had the B type disease; 7.5% had the T-type; and the remaining 28% had Hodgkinʹs lymphoma. In the present study, most (48%) patients with Hodgkinʹs lymphoma had mixed cellularity whereas in western countries the most common type is reported to be nodular sclerosis (69.4%). Conclusion: The comparison made between the findings of this study and those of western countries indicates that high-grade non-Hodgkinʹs lymphomas are more prevalent in Iran.