Distribution of lymphomas in Mexico: a multicenter descriptive study

Epidemiology of lymphoma is not well described in Mexico. We determined the frequencies and subtypes of the main non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphomas in the Mexican population. Files for tissue samples for lymphomas stored in five different hospitals in Mexico City were retrieved for re-analysis and further immunostaining. The most common mature B cell, T cell/NK cell, Hodgkin’s, and precursor lymphoid neoplasms were identified according to the 2008 WHO classification of tumors. All stains were performed in the same laboratory and interpreted by three pathologists. Five thousand seven hundred seventy-two neoplasms were included. Of these, 4213 were mature B cell neoplasms (73%; 95% CI 71.83–74.12), 888 Hodgkin’s lymphomas (HLs) (15%; 95% CI 14.48–16.34), 496 mature T cell/NK neoplasms (9%; 95% CI 7.89–9.34), and 175 precursor lymphoid neoplasms (3%; 95% CI 2.62–3.5). Neoplasms had an even distribution between sexes. Main mature B cell lymphomas were diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (56%; 95% CI 54.39–57.39) and follicular lymphoma (FL) (20%; 95% CI 18.92–21.34). Hodgkin’s lymphomas were also classified into five main subtypes, with nodular sclerosis (47%; 95% CI 44.14–50.7) and mixed cellularity (38%; 95% CI 34.49–40.85) being the most common. The most common mature T cell/NK neoplasm was peripheral T cell lymphoma NOS/anaplastic large cell lymphoma ALK negative (44%; 95% CI 39.85–48.84). This is the first descriptive study in Mexico with a large sample of lymphomas classified according to the 2008 WHO classification. The results obtained are in keeping with the numbers described in other populations.