Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Subtypes over Time in an Unselected Population of 646 Patients: A Study of Clinico-Pathological Data and Incidence Based on a Review Using the REAL-Classification

Abstract

Biopsies from 646 consecutive unselected cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from a Danish population-based registry were reclassified according to the REAL classification 1) to study the distribution of subtypes over time. and 2) to correlate a number of clinical parameters with the various subtypes. Two cohorts from 1986 and 1992, of 292 and 354 cases, respectively, were studied. From 1986 to 1992 (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma showed a change in incidence of + 43.1%, as opposed + 2.5% for all other subtypes combined (p = 0.05). suggesting that the increasing general incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is due primarily to an increasing incidence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A higher rate of cell proliferation was associated with an increasing chance of having extranodal disease. For the various subgroups there was good agreement between survival and the international prognostic index.

Key Words:

• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• population-based
• REAL-classification
• epidemiology
• extra nodal
• plasmacytoid
• immunoblastic
• survival
• international prognostic index

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hans Brincker

Joyce Laing works in the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Playfield House, Cupar, Fife, and is a Consultant Art Therapist to Psychiatric Hospitals and Prisons and Chairwoman of the Scottish Society of Art and Psychology.