Primary Extranodal Gastrointestinal Lymphoma: A Single Center Experience from Southern Iran - Report of Changing Epidemiology

Objectives: Gastrointestinal lymphoma is the most common type of extranodal non-Hogkin's lymphoma. The proportion and different types of primary extrancidal gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are different in various geographic locations. Therefore, in this study we tried to evaluate the various types of extranodel gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in affiliated hospitals of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences as the largest referral center in the southern Iran. Design: During 5 years (2005 2010), the pathology-archives-and clinical Charts Of all patient's diagnosed with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the affiliated hospitals of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were evaluated. All demographic and pathologic findings were recorded. Results: During these 5 years; there were 110 cases with the diagnosis of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma: The most common location Was stomach followed by small intestine and Colon. The most Common type was diffuse large B cell type. There were only two cases Of immunoproliferative small intestinal lymphoma. Conclusion: The pattern of gastrointestinal lymphoma in Iran is very similar to the Western countries. Compared with 40 years ago, it seems that the epidemiology of this lymphoma has changed.