Korean J Pathol.  2011 Jun;45(3):254-260. 10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2011.45.3.254.

WHO Classification of Malignant Lymphomas in Korea: Report of the Third Nationwide Study

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pathology, Chungnam National University, Korea.
  • 2Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea.
  • 4Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Korea.
  • 5Department of Pathology, Catholic University of Korea, Korea.
  • 6Department of Pathology, Seoul National University, Korea.
  • 7Department of Pathology, Seoul Paik Hospital, Korea.
  • 8Department of Pathology, Dankook University, Korea.
  • 9Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Korea.
  • 10Department of Pathology, Konkuk University, Korea.
  • 11Department of Pathology, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Korea.
  • 12Department of Pathology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Korea.
  • 13Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Korea.
  • 14Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University, Korea.
  • 15Department of Pathology, Wonkwang University, Korea.
  • 16Department of Pathology, Hanyang University, Korea.
  • 17Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University, Korea.
  • 18Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Korea.
  • 19Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University, Korea.
  • 20Department of Pathology, Gyeongsang University, Korea.
  • 21Department of Pathology, KyungHee University, Korea.
  • 22Department of Pathology, Eulji University Daejeon Hospital, Korea.
  • 23Department of Pathology, Chosun University, Korea.
  • 24Department of Pathology, Chonbuk National University, Korea.
  • 25Department of Pathology, Kosin University, Korea.
  • 26Department of Pathology, Keimyung University, Korea.
  • 27Department of Pathology, Ewha Womans University, Korea.
  • 28Department of Pathology, Ulsan University, Korea.
  • 29Department of Pathology, Inha University, Korea.
  • 30Department of Pathology, Ajou University, Korea.
  • 31Department of Pathology, Dong-A University, Korea.
  • 32Department of Pathology, Korea University, Korea. iskim@korea.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim of study was to determine the relative frequency of malignant lymphoma according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification in Korea.
METHODS
A total of 3,998 cases diagnosed at 31 institutes between 2005 and 2006 were enrolled. Information including age, gender, pathologic diagnosis, site of involvement and immunophenotypes were obtained.
RESULTS
The relative frequency of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was 95.4% and 4.6%, respectively. B-cell lymphomas accounted for 77.6% of all NHL, while T/natural killer (T/NK)-cell lymphomas accounted for 22.4%. The most frequent subtypes of NHL were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (42.7%), extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBCL) of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (19.0%), NK/T-cell lymphoma (6.3%) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), unspecified (6.3%), in decreasing order. The relative frequency of HL was nodular sclerosis (47.4%), mixed cellularity (30.6%), and nodular lymphocyte predominant (12.1%) subtypes. Compared with a previous study in 1998, increase in gastric MZBCL and nodular sclerosis HL, and slight decrease of follicular lymphoma, PTCL, and NK/T-cell lymphoma were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Korea had lower rates of HL and follicular lymphoma, and higher rates of extranodal NHL, extranodal MZBCL, and NK/T-cell lymphoma of nasal type compared with Western countries. Changes in the relative frequency of lymphoma subtypes are likely ascribed to refined diagnostic criteria and a change in national health care policy.

Keyword

Lymphoma; Malignant; WHO; Korea

MeSH Terms

Academies and Institutes
Delivery of Health Care
Hodgkin Disease
Korea
Lymphocytes
Lymphoid Tissue
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, B-Cell
Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone
Lymphoma, Follicular
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral
Sclerosis
World Health Organization
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