Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in South East Asia: An analysis of the histopathology, clinical features, and survival from Thailand

• Main Authors: Tanin Intragumtornchai, Udomsak Bunworasate, Kitsada Wudhikarn, Arnuparp Lekhakula, Jakrawadi Julamanee, Kanchana Chansung, Chittima Sirijerachai, Lalita Norasetthada, Weerasak Nawarawong, Archrob Khuhapinant, Noppadol Siritanaratanakul, Tontanai Numbenjapon, Kannadit Prayongratana, Suporn Chuncharunee, Pimjai Niparuck, Tawatchai Suwanban, Nongluk Kanitsap, Somchai Wongkhantee, Rutchanid Pornvipavee, Peerapon Wong, Nisa Makruasi, Pongsak Wannakrairot, Thamathorn Assanasen, Sanya Sukpanichnant, Paisarn Boonsakan, Wasana Kanoksil, Charin Ya-in, Kanita Kayasut, Winyu Mitranun, Naree Warnnissorn
• Format: Journal
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Medicine
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85017382024&origin=inward; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/58305
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Systemic reports on the descriptive epidemiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from Southeast Asia are scarce. A nationwide multi-institutional registry was conducted to compare the histopathology, clinical features, and survival of Thai adult patients with NHL using large registries, especially those from Far East Asia (FEA). Using a web-based registry system, 13 major medical centers from the 4 geographic regions of Thailand prospectively collected, from 2007 to 2014, the diagnostic pathology, according to the World Health Organization classification, 2008, clinical features and survival of 4056 patients who were newly diagnosed with NHL. The median age of the patients was 56 years (range, 16-99 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. From the total of 4056 patients, T/NK-cell lymphoma (TNKCL) accounted for 12.6% of cases, and 5.1% had human immunodeficiency virus–associated lymphoma. The four leading histological subtypes were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (58.1%); follicular lymphoma (5.6%); extranodal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (5.2%); and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (4.0%). With a median follow-up duration of 46.1 months, the median overall survival of B-cell NHL was significantly longer than that of patients with TNKCL (76.5 vs 28.8 months, P =.0001). Compared to FEA, the Thai registry had an approximately one-half lower relative frequency of TNKCL; the prevalence of extranodal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma was much lower than in Korea, and the frequency of extranodal TNKCL, nasal type, was strikingly low compared to China. It is concluded that while the median age of Thai patients with NHL was approximately a decade younger than for Caucasians, the long-term survival rates for most histological subtypes were comparable. While the histological distribution generally complied with the characteristic Asian features, some differences from FEA were observed.