Naila Yaqub, Mumtaz H Khan, Hafeez Ur Rehman.
Non-Hodgkin`s Lymphomas - I: Non-Hodgkin`s Lymphomas in children.
J Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;14(1):742-4.

This retrospective study was conducted at Children Hospital, Pakistan institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, by reviewing the data related to children with non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma treated between January 1990 and December 1999. Eighty-four patients including 60 males and 24 females with the age range from one year to 14 years managed during this period were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on histological examination of biopsies of lymph nodes/masses. Most of the patients presented in advanced stage of the disease: 9 in stage II, 46 in stage III and 26 in stage IV. Complete blood count, urine analysis, x-ray chest and abdomen, ultrasound abdomen, and in selected cases CT scan were performed. Treatment modalities included radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Ten drugs regimen was instituted in lymphoblastic lymphoma and COMP regimen was used for all other types of nonHodgkin`s lymphoma. Three patients disappeared after confirmation of diagnosis and thus were excluded from the study. Only 40 out of these 81 patients received complete course of chemotherapy. The five years event free survival of these 40 patients was 35.9%. In this study the outcome of treatment of nonHodgkin`s lymphoma is comparable with the outcome reported in other studies. The survival of these patients can be improved by increasing awareness of society through education and media to avoid late presentation. To have good compliance of parents appropriate medical facilities must be made available.

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