Nuzhat Yasmeen.
Hodgkin’s disease: a children hospital experience.
Int J Pathol Jan ;5(2):62-6.

Objective: To analyze the data of children with Hodgkin’s disease at presentation with respect to clinical features, laboratory evidence and to find their outcome. Materials And Methods: This retrospective review was carried out at Oncology Unit of Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) from November 2005 to October 2007. All patients with biopsy proven Hodgkin’s disease were included. The age limit was 14 years. The data of 33 patients was analyzed. This epidemiological data, histopathology, basic laboratory investigations, staging workup with outcome at the time of study was analyzed. Results: 33 patients out of 204 had Hodgkin’s disease. Age ranging between 2-14 years. The mean age was 7 years. Peak ages were between 6-8 years and 10-11 years. Patients mainly hailed from upper Punjab or North West Frontier Province (NWFP) (42% and 24 %). The past history of receiving antituberculous therapy was positive in 15% of patients. Patients usually had cervical involvement (78%). Bone marrow involvement was seen in 9%. The majority of the patients presented in Stage III (45%). The most common histological type was mixed cellularity (54%), followed by nodular sclerosis (30%). 70 % of the patients were off treatment and the overall mortality was 9%. Conclusion: Hodgkin’s disease constitutes 16% of malignancies referred to Children Hospital. The age of presentation is significantly younger in Pakistan. Mixed Cellularity is the most common type of Hodgkin’s disease which has strong association with EBV infection. The survival is good on standard regimen with mortality of only 9%. However long term follow up is required for evaluating 5 years and 10 years survival

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