Spectrum of lymphoma in Western Maharashtra: A tertiary care rural hospital study

Abstract

Background: There are very few studies to date focusing on the demography of lymphoma in the rural population of western Maharashtra. The distribution of different subtypes of lymphoma varies across different geographical locations. The present study aimed to find the distribution of various histopathological subtypes of lymphoma in the rural population of western Maharashtra.

Materials and Methods: The study is a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study consisting of 134 cases of lymphoma detected at a tertiary care rural hospital in western Maharashtra between November 2010 and December 2024. Based on the morphology and immunohistochemistry, cases were diagnosed as Hodgkin lymphoma or Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma according to the 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours.

Results: Out of the total 134 cases, 33/134 (24%) cases were diagnosed as Hodgkin lymphoma and 101/134 (75%) cases were diagnosed as Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. 64% of cases were seen in males. The most common age group in Hodgkin lymphoma patients was 11 - 20 years with 09/33 (27%) cases, and the most common age group for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma case was above 60 years with 34/101 (33%) cases. Among Hodgkin Lymphoma, mixed cellularity type was the most common, followed by Nodular sclerosis subtype of Hodgkin Lymphoma. Among Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma was the most common diagnosis, followed by Follicular Lymphoma.

Conclusions: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma was more common than Hodgkin lymphoma in the rural population of western Maharashtra as per present study. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma were the predominant subtypes.