RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY EXTRANODAL NON HODGKINS LYMPHOMA- 3 YEARS STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE INSTITUTE

Backgound: A variable number of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) arise primarily from sites other than lymph nodes or the bone marrow and even from sites which normally contain no native lymphoid tissue. Indeed, extranodal lymphomas can arise in almost every organ. The incidence of primary extranodal lymphomas is increasing substantially all over the world. Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, S.G.P.G.I.M.S, Lucknow. A total of 231 cases of non hodgkins lymphoma were registered over a period of 3 years. The demographic and clinical features, laboratory parameters, imaging findings, histopathology, and immunophenotyping were documented. The lymphomas were grouped as extranodal and nodal. The data were tabulated in a Microsoft Excel sheet, and descriptive analysis was done. Results: Primary extranodal NHLs constituted 43% (100/231) of all NHLs. The B symptoms were less common in pENL compared to nodal NHL. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) constituted the most common extranodal site (40/100, 40%), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was the most common histological subtype. Majority (99/100, 99%) of the patients with pENL were immunocompetent. Conclusions: Primary extranodal NHL constituted nearly half of patients diagnosed to have NHL at our center with the GIT being the most common site of presentation and DLBCL being the most common histology. A strong suspicion of NHL at an extranodal site with appropriate pathological and immunophenotyping evidence is needed to establish the diagnosis of a pENL.