ABCL-154: Problems in the Management of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in the Hematology Department of CHU of Conakry (Guinea)

Abstract

Introduction: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are characterized by monoclonal malignant proliferation of B or T lymphoid cells, rarely NK. The objective of the study was to determine the main difficulties in the management of patients being followed for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at the Hematology Department of the Conakry University Hospital. It took place over a period from January 2015 to September 2019. It consisted of data collection from the records of patients meeting the inclusion criteria during the study period. Results: We included 49 cases in which NHL accounted for 51.12% of all hematological malignancies. The M/F sex ratio was 2.11. The mean age was 43 years with extremes of 17 and 75 years. The most affected age group was 45-59 years of age. Diagnosis was made on the basis of: histology (93.88%), immunohistochemistry (4.08%), cytology (2.04%). The diagnostic delay was less than 6 months (10.20%), between 6 and 12 months (42.85%) and more than 12 months (46.95%). The most frequent histological type was diffuse large cell lymphoma (41%), followed by Burkitt lymphoma (20.41%) and marginal zone lymphoma (19%). Treatment was mainly CHOP21 (61.02%), COP (14.28%), and the rest of the patients were untreated. For those treated, the therapeutic plan was respected in 38.25% of cases. Conclusion: Diagnostic delay, unavailability of immunohistochemistry and specific drugs, low socioeconomic status, and illiteracy for some patients were the main problems found in the management of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in our exercise setting. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are characterized by monoclonal malignant proliferation of B or T lymphoid cells, rarely NK. The objective of the study was to determine the main difficulties in the management of patients being followed for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at the Hematology Department of the Conakry University Hospital. It took place over a period from January 2015 to September 2019. It consisted of data collection from the records of patients meeting the inclusion criteria during the study period. We included 49 cases in which NHL accounted for 51.12% of all hematological malignancies. The M/F sex ratio was 2.11. The mean age was 43 years with extremes of 17 and 75 years. The most affected age group was 45-59 years of age. Diagnosis was made on the basis of: histology (93.88%), immunohistochemistry (4.08%), cytology (2.04%). The diagnostic delay was less than 6 months (10.20%), between 6 and 12 months (42.85%) and more than 12 months (46.95%). The most frequent histological type was diffuse large cell lymphoma (41%), followed by Burkitt lymphoma (20.41%) and marginal zone lymphoma (19%). Treatment was mainly CHOP21 (61.02%), COP (14.28%), and the rest of the patients were untreated. For those treated, the therapeutic plan was respected in 38.25% of cases. Diagnostic delay, unavailability of immunohistochemistry and specific drugs, low socioeconomic status, and illiteracy for some patients were the main problems found in the management of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in our exercise setting.